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HISTORY 

OF  THE 

IRISH  INSURRECTION 

OF  179S, 

GIVTNQ  AN    AUTHENTIC  ACCOUNT  OF 

THE  VARIOUS  BATTLES  FOUGHT  BETWEEN 
THE  INSURGENTS  AND  THE  KING'S  ARMY, 

AND  A 

GENUINE  HISTORY  OF  TRANSACTIONS 

PRECEDING   THAT  EVENT. 

BY  EDWARD  HAY,  ESQ., 

MEMBER  OF  THE  ROYAL  IRISH  ACADEMY. 


u  I  will  a  round,  unvarnished  tale  deliver." 

11  Nothing  extenuate, 
Nor  get  down  aught  in  malice." 

Shakspeare. 


NEW  YOEK : 
FELIX   E.  O'KOURKE, 

9  BARCLAY  STREET. 
1873. 


BOSTON  COLLEGE  LI BH Alii 


Ca&&IKUT  MILL,  A I  ass. 


H4-I4- 


BOSTON  COLLEGE 
CHESTNUT  HILL,  MA 


LIB  FURY 


C2L67 


CONTENTS. 


Pag* 

Geographical  description  of  the  county  of  Wexford  1" 

Institution  of  the  Volunteers  of  Ireland       .       .  2i 

Meeting  of  the  county  on  the  22d  of  September,  1 792  2i_ 

  on  the  11th  of  January,  1793  27 

Riots  in  the  year  1793  .  .  3 
Meeting  of  the  county  on  the  23d  of  March,  1795, 

on  the  recall  of  Earl  Fitzwilliam  .  36 
Loss  of  the  former  independence  of  the  county  of 

Wexford     .          .          .          .          .       .  39 

Melancholy  effects  produced  by  the  riots  in  the 

county  of  Armagh,  in  1795          .  42 

Causes  of  the  present  state  of  Ireland  .  .  44 
Conduct  of  the  troops  in  Ireland  censured  by  Sir 

Ralph  Abercromby,  commander-in-chief  .  .  50 
Proclamation  of  sixteen  parishes  in  the  county  of 

Wexford,  28th  November,  1797  .  •  .52 
Conduct  of  the  North  Cork  militia  on  their  arrival 

in  the  county  of  Wexford    .  .  .  .56 

The  whole  of  the  county  of  Wexford  proclaimed  on 

the  27th  of  April,  1798  .  .  .  60 
Meeting  of  the  magistrates  of  the  county,  23d  of 

May           .                             ...  67 

Sudden  insurrection  oh  the  27th  of  May       .  '     .  81 

Battle  of  Oulart,  on  the  27th  of  May           .       .  82 

Battle  at  Enniscorthy,  28th  of  May      .       .       .  83 

Retreat  of  the  troops  to  Wexford — general  confusion  86 

Deputation  to  the  insurgents  on  Vinegar  Hill      .  90 
Defeat  at  the  Three-rocks — surrender  and  abandon- 
ment of  Wexford  to  the  insurgents,  on  the  30th 

May  .  .  .  •  98 
Conduct  of  the  troops  on  their  retreat  to  Duncan- 

non  Fort  .  .  ■  .  .  104 
General  arrangements  of  the  insurgenta      .  .115 


1956 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Abandonmen  t  of  Gorey — conduct  of  the  inhabit 
isati        .         .         .  .  118 

Bt  sttes  of  Newtownbarry  and  Bally  canow,  on  the 
1st  of  June,  1798 .         .         .  .  .119 

Lord  Kingsborough,  Captains  O'Hea  and  Bourke 

taken  prisoners,  2d  of  June  .  .  J  22 

Battle  of  Clough  or  Tubberneering,  4th  of  June  .  128 
Battle  of  Boss,  5th  of  June  .  .  .130 

Dreadful  abomination  at  Scullabogue        .  .134 
L^tie  of  Arklov. ,  9th  of  June      .  .  .153 

Attack  at  Borris      .  .  .  .  .160 

Proposals  of  accommodation  from  Lord  Kings- 
borough, 14th  of  June    .         •         .  .164 
Skirmish  at  Tinnahely,  loth  of  June        .  .  167 

Insurgents  surprised  onLacken  Hill — their  retreat, 
19th         .  .         .  .  .169 

Critical  situation  of  Wexford — dreadful  massacre  II!  1 73 
Battle  of  Horetown  or  Folk's-mill,  20th    .         .  190 
Battle  of  Enniscorthy,  2 1st  .  .  .191 

Wexford  surrendered  to  Lord  Kingsborough— his 
conduct  and  dispatches    .  .  .  .194 

Major-general  Moore's  approach  to  Wexford,'  21st .  201 
Pursuit  of  the  insurgents  from  Gorey,  and  their  pro- 
gress out  of  the  eounty    .  :  .  .  207 
Trials  and  executions  in  Wexford  .         .  .  209 
Progress  of  the  Wexford  insurgents  in  the  counties 
of  Carlow  and  Kilkenny  ....  213 

Progress  of  the  Wexford  insurgents  in  the  county 
of  Wicklow         .         .  .  .  .215 

Progress  of  the  Wexford  insurgents  closed  by  sur- 
render     ......  220 

Commanders  and  court-martials  appointed  .  221 

Conduct  of  General  Hunter — his  suoerior  discrimi- 
nation     ....  .  224 

Intended  extermination  of  the  innabitants  of  the 
Macomores  .         .         .  .  .  236 

Conduct  of  the  people  on  the  landing  of  the  French 

at  Killala  233 

Conflagration  of  a  Protestant  Church  and  Catholic 

Chapels  243 

Conclusion   ......  252 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


Before  entering  on  the  narrative  of  the  late  insurrec- 
tion in  the  county  of  Wexford — the  causes  that  produced 
it,  and  its  calamitous  consequences — I  think  it  necessary 
to  give  a  general  sketch  of  its  geography  and  local  cir- 
cumstances, together  with  a  short  topographical  outline 
of  its  boundaries,  principal  rivers,  harbours,  and  re- 
markable places,  to  render  references  more  easy  and 
obvious ;  adding  the  estimate  of  its  computed  population 
in  1788,  stated  by  Mr.  Bushe,  in  the  transactions  of  the 
Royal  Irish  Academy,  and  published  in  1790. 

The  county  of  Wexford  is  a  maritime  tract  on  the 
south-eastern  coast  of  Ireland,  taking  the  utmost  limits 
within  the  fifty- third  degree  of  north  latitude,  and 
between  the  sixth  and  seventh  of  longitude  west  from 
London ;  being  about  thirty-nine  miles  long,  from  north 
to  south,  and  twenty-four  broad,  from  west  to  east ; 
bounded  on  the  north  mostly  by  the  county  of  Wicklow, 
and  in  a  very  small  part  (towards  the  west)  by  the 
county  of  Carlow ;  on  the  east  and  south,  by  that  part 
of  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  denominated  the  Irish  Sea,  or 
St.  George's  Channel ;  and  on  the  west,  from  north  to 
south,  partly  by  the  county  of  Carlow,  and  partly  by 
the  Barrow,  a  fine  navigable  river,  deemed  second  oniy 
to  the  Shannon  in  Ireland,  which  divides  it  from  the 
counties  of  Kilkenny  and  Waterford.    In  a  direction 


14 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


from  south-west  to  north-east,  the  boun 
county  of  Wexford,  between  it  and  the  county  of 
Carlow,  are  the  long  ridges  of  mountains  called  Blaclr 
Stairs  and  Mount  Leinster,  which  are  divided  by  the 
defile  of  Scollagh-gap,  the  only  high  road  into  it  from 
the  Barrow  to  the  Slaney,  at  Newtownbarry,  which  to- 
gether with  Clonegal  two  miles  farther  up,  is  situated 
partly  in  the  county  of  Carlow,  and  partly  in  the  county 
of  Wexford ;  but,  southward  of  the  county  Wicklow,  a 
chain  of  lofty  mountains,  opening  with  different  defiles, 
rivers,  and  high  hills,  form  a  strong  natural  barrier  to 
the  county  of  Wexford,  which,  thus  physically  fortified 
by  sea  and  land,  appears  naturally  formed  into  a  dis- 
trict, which  it  has  certainly  been  by  all  ancient  divisions 
of  the  country,  whether  ecclesiastical,  civil,  or  military. 
The  bishopric  of  Ferns,  one  of  the  oldest  in  Ireland, 
founded  in  the  latter  end  of  the  sixth  century,  is  nearly 
co-extensive  with  the  county,  only  a  small  strip  of  land 
about  Carnew,  in  the  county  of  Wicklow,  forming  a 
part  of  the  diocess  of  Ferns,  while  the  see  of  Glenda- 
lough  includes  two  parishes  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Coolgreny,  in  the  county  of  Wexford.  The  English 
adventurers  having  first  landed  here  under  Fitzstephen, 
in  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Second  of  England,  to  assist 
in  the  restoration  of  M'Morragh,  king  of  Leinster,  it 
became  the  strongest  military  station  of  the  invaders, 
while  they  were  endeavouring  to  establish  themselves  in 
the  country,  and  was  one  of  the  first  demarked  counties 
of  the  English  pale. 

Wexford  is  sixty-four  miles  distant  from  Dublin, 
called  by  the  old  natives  Loch-Garmain,  by  the  Danish 
invaders  Weifsford,  and  after  them  by  the  English, 
Wexford  ;  is  the  capital,  or  shire  and  assize  town  of  the 
county,  situated  in  a  hollow  beneath  a  rising  hill,  with 
a  southern  aspect,  at  the  mouth  of  the  beautiful  rivet 
Slaney,  which  rises  in  the  county  of  Wicklow,  takes  a 
southern  direction,  with  little  variation  from  Newtown- 
barry, till  it  passes  some  miles  below  Enniscorthy,  then 
shapes  its  course  from  west  to  east,  and  empties  itself 
by  the  harbour  of  Wexford,  into  the  Irish  Sea,  or  St. 
George's  Channel.  This  harbour  is  formed  by  two  nar. 
row  necks  of  land,  bending  towards  each  other  like  two 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


arms  closing  after  an  extension  from  the  body,  which 
appearance  the  river's  mouth  assumes  by  its  banks,  not 
very  unlike  the  old  Piraeus  of  Athens.  The  extremities 
of  these  peninsulas,  denominated  the  Raven  on  the 
north,  and  Roslare  on  the  south,  form  the  entrance  into 
the  harbour,  winch  is  about  half  a  mile  broad,  defended 
by  a  fort  erected  at  the  point  of  Roslare.  The  harbour 
itself,  in  superficial  appearance,  and  from  the  view  of  a 
delightfully  expanded  sheet  of  water,  must  be  considered 
extremely  beautiful;  but,  unfortunately,  it  is  so  shal- 
low, that  vessels  drawing  more  than  eleven  feet  of  water 
cannot  enter  it,  being  impeded  by  a  bar  which  is  con- 
tinually shifting.  The  harbour,  however,  is. certainly 
capable  of  vast  improvement ;  and,  from  its  situation, 
attention  to  this  object  must  prove  of  great  national  im- 
portance. Wexford  was  formerly  possessed  of  some 
general  traffic,  but  now  it  is  nearly  limited  to  the  corn 
trade ;  and  the  manufacture  of  malt  is  so  considerable, 
that  this  district  was  some  years  ago  computed  to  pro- 
duce one-fourth  of  the  revenue  raised  on  that  article  in 
Ireland.  The  town  is  surrounded  by  its  ancient  wall, 
still  perfect,  excej  t  at  the  public  entrances,  which  have 
been  broken  down  for  public  convenience.  The  ruins 
of  churches  and  abbeys  are  to  be  seen,  which  even  in 
neglect  and  decay,  exhibit  marks  of  ancient  magnifi- 
cence ;  and  the  Protestant  church,  Roman  Catholic 
chapel,  market-house,  and  barracks,  buildings  which 
are  not  inferior  to  those  of  other  places,  of  equal,  or 
perhaps  superior  importance.  The  general  appearance 
of  the  town  is,  however,  very  indifferent,  the  streets  be- 
ing very  narrow,  and  having  but  few  good  houses  ;  yet 
it  is  in  a  state  of  improvement,  and  when  the  quay  shall 
be  filled  in  and  well  banked,  an  operation  now  in  pro- 
gress, it  will,  in  all  likelihood,  induce  people  to  pay 
more  attention  to  the  art  of  building,  as  the  situation  is 
inviting.  The  remarkable  wooden  bridge  built  in  1795, 
over  the  mouth  of  the  Slaney,  leading  north  war  I  from 
the  town,  is  undoubtedly  a  very  great  curiosity,  being 
fifteen  hundred  and  fifty-nine  feet  long,  with  a  portcullis, 
and  thirty -four  feet  wide  through  its  whole  extent,  with 
A  toll-house  at  each  extremity.  On  each  side  are  foot- 
ways, ornamented  with  Chinese  railings  supported  by 


16 


HISTORY  07  THE 


strong  bars.  Thtre  are  also  two  recesses,  with  seats  for 
shelter  against  sudden  showers  ;  for  it  is  the  beau  walk 
of  the  town,  and  thus  contributes  much  to  the  tolls  col- 
lected to  defray  the  expense  of  the  building.  About  two 
miles  up  the  river,  there  is  also  another  wooden  bridge 
with  a  portcullis,  at  a  place  called  Carrig,  where  the 
first  square  castle  built  in  Ireland  was  reared  by  Fitz- 
stephen  after  the  landing  of  Strongbow.  Many  other 
castles  are  to  be  seen  throughout  the  county,  particu- 
larly in  the  baronies  of  Forth  and  Bargy.  There  do  not 
at  present  exist  any  traces  of  round  towers ;  but  there 
are  innumerable  Danish  forts  and  raths.  Wexford  re- 
turns one  member  to  the  imperial  parliament. 

Taghmon  is  on  the  road  from  Wexford  to  Ross,  at  the 
foot  of  the  mountain  of  Forth.  It  lies  inland — has  a 
market,  fairs,  and  a  post-office,  also  the  remains  of  an 
old  castle,  and  is  surrounded  by  good  lands. 

New  Ross,  sixty-seven  miles  from  Dublin,  and  nine* 
teen  west  of  Wexford,  is  situated  on  the  Barrow,  and 
well  stationed  for  trade,  in  which  it  is  rapidly  improv- 
ing, as  well  as  in  the  appearance  of  the  town  itself,  which 
has  been  greatly  retarded  from  the  want  of  proper  en- 
couragement. It  is  built  on  the  side  of  a  hill,  com* 
manding  a  beautiful  view  of  the  river  and  part  of  the 
county  of  Kilkenny,  the  passage  to  which,  over  it,  is  by 
a  fine  wooden  bridge,  from  the  upper  part  of  the  quay, 
with  a  portcullis,  foot-ways,  Chinese  railings,  and  re- 
cesses in  the  centre.  Here  are  the  ruins  of  abbeys  and 
some  churches  ;  part  of  one  of  the  latter  now  forms  the 
Protestant  church.  The  old  town  walls  were  standing  until 
lately,  and  their  partial  destruction  was  much  regretted 
on  the  attack  of  the  insurgents  in  June,  1798.  It  re- 
turns a  member  to  parliament. 

Enniscorthy  lies  fifty-eight  miles  from  Dublin,  fifteen 
from  Ross,  eleven  from  Wenford  by  land,  and  fourteen 
by  the  windings  of  the  Slaney,  which  waters  it,  and 
whose  banks  are  unrivalled  in  beauty ;  but  it  is  to  bf 
lamented  that  its  navigation  has  not  been  attended  to. 
as,  at  a  small  expense,  it  could  be  so  improved  as  to 
render  Enniscorthy  a  very  flourishing  town,  which  alas 
feels  the  disadvantage  of  not  possessing  the  fostering 
care  of  a  resident  landlo— 1     It  would  be  a  most  excsf 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


17 


tent  situation  for  carrying  on  any  kind  of  manufacture. 
When  woods  were  in  greater  abundance  in  Ireland,  it 
was  remarkable  for  its  iron  works,  some  of  which  are 
still  existing  near  it ;  there  now  remain  the  extensive 
woods  of  Kiiaughram  in  its  neighbourhood.  The  town 
now  exhibits  a  melancholy  picture  of  the  devastation 
consequent  on  civil  war,  being  mostly  destroyed  during 
the  insurrection  in  1798,  which,  among  other  effects, 
has  occa.sioned  its  not  being,  what  it  otherwise  would 
have  been,  one  of  the  representative  towns  of  Ireland. 
A  fine  old  castle  is  still  in  tolerable  repair,  and  the  town 
is  rebuilding  very  fast. 

Gorey,  or  Newborough,  is  forty-two  miles  from  Dub- 
lin, nine  from  Arklow,  twenty-two  miles  north  of  Wex- 
ford, and  fifteen  from  Enniscorthy.  It  lies  inland,  has 
little  or  no  trade  but  what  arises  from  fairs  and  markets, 
and  is  a  post-town. 

Ferns  lies  six  miles  from  Enniscorthy,  and  nine  from 
Gorey  ;  is  a  bishop's  see,  since  the  Reformation  united  to 
Leighlin  in  the  Protestant,  but  never  annexed  in  the 
Catholic  church.  It  was  founded  by  St.  Maod'og,  (pro- 
nounced by  the  inhabitants,  and  written  at  this  day,  St. 
Mogue,)  in  reverence  of  whom  the  primacy  of  Leinstcr 
wa3  transferred  to  it  from  Kildare,  towards  the  latter  end 
of  the  sixth  century.  Part  of  the  very  large  old  church, 
now  grand  even  in  ruin,  dedicated  to  him  as  first  bishop, 
constitutes  the  present  cathedral.  His  sepulchre  is  even 
still  preserved  and  in  good  repair,  in  part  of  the  parent 
church,  having  been  rescued  from  obscurity  by  one  of 
the  late  bishops.  The  episcopal  palace  is  contiguous  to 
the  town,  and  its  principal  ornament.  Here  also  stand 
the  ruins  of  an  abbey,  and  of  the  memorable  castle  of 
Dermod  M'Morragh,  king  of  Leinster,  whither,  as  his 
principal  residence,  he  retired  with  the  beauteous  and 
fatal  Dervorgal,  daughter  of  O'Malfechlin,  king  of  Meath, 
2nd  wife  of  O'Rorke,  prince  of  Breifny,  now  denomi- 
nated the  county  of  Leitrim,  from  whom,  by  every  wil; 
Contrivance,  he  is  said  to  have  seduced  and  persuaded  hei 
to  elope  with  him,  which  eventually  produced  one  of  the 
most  momentous  epochs,  as  marked  with  one  of  the 
greatest  »nd  most  serious  revolutions  that  occurs  in  the 
history  of  Ireland,  prodding  a  complete  and  total  change 


18 


HISTORT  OF  THE 


in  its  laws,  customs,  government,  and  proprietors ;  and, 
in  a  great  extent,  even  in  its  population  ;  and,  finally, 
in  our  own  days,  in  its  imperial  dominion  and  indepen- 
dence. This  libertine  and  licentious  deed  introduced  the 
adventuring  Anglo-Norman  chiefs,  at  the  head  of  the 
Welch  or  British  and  English  invaders ;  who,  by  long 
and  persevering  efforts,  established  a  transcendant  ascen- 
dancy in  Ireland.  For  Dermod,  odious  as  notorious  for 
other  acts  of  tyranny  and  violence,  attracted,  by  this 
flagitious  crime,  the  aggravated  execration  and  resent- 
ment of  Roderick  O'Connor,  the  reigning  monarch,  as 
well  as  of  all  the  other  chiefs  and  princes  of  the  land ; 
who,  making  common  cause  against  the  execrable  out- 
rage, forced  him  out  of  the  island,  whither  he  ere  long 
returned,  introducing  those  invaders  (from  one  of  whom 
I  am  myself  descended,)  who  ultimately  succeeded  in  its 
utter  reduction.  Hence  it  cannot  be  fantastical  to  deem, 
in  similitude,  Dermod  the  Paris,  Dervorgal  the  Helen, 
Ferns  the  Troy,  and  the  Anglo-Norman  and  Welch  ad- 
venturers, the  Greeks  of  Ireland,  and  were  there  another 
Homer  in  existence,  he  might  rejoice  in  having  a  second 
equivalent  subject  to  display  anew  his  powers.  At  all 
events,  the  Irish  have  to  exclaim  in  sympathy  with  the 
Trojans  in  Virgil,  from  a  similarity  of  circumstances — 

"  fuimus  Troes,  fuit  Ilium  et  ingens 

Gloria  Teucrorum  

'For  there  were  Irish — they  possessed  dominion — 
they  were  greatly  renowned — but  Jhey  are  now  no 
more  !" 

The  English,  when  established  in  the  baronies  of  Forth 
and  Bargy,  willing  to  extend  their  dominion  over  the 
whole  county  of  Wexford,  encountered  vigorous  resist- 
ance. Forced  by  various  oppressions,  the  natives  rose 
under  a  youthful  hero  ol  the  ancient  royal  blood,  Arthur 
M'Murchad  O'Cavanagh,  who  defeated  them  in  several 
rencounters,  and  brought  the  pale  to  the  verge  of  de- 
struction. On  this  occasion,  Richard  II.  of  England  has- 
tened to  its  assistance  with  forty  thousand  men ;  but 
foiled  and  defeated  by  the  Leinster  chieftain,  he  was 
glad  to  purchase  present  safety  by  a  dishonourable  peace ; 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


IS 


and,  perhaps,  this  expedition  was  the  cause  of  his  losing 
both  life  and  crown.  The  chiefs  of  the  pale,  after  re- 
peated and  fruitless  contests,  in  which  the  best  English 
generals  were  defeated,  thought  themselves  happy  in  ob- 
taining toleration  to  remain  in  Ireland,  on  condition  of 
paying  a  yearly  tribute  to  the  chieftain  of  Leinster. 
This  tax  is  well  known  under  the  name  of  Black  Rent, 
which  continued  to  be  paid  until  the  reign  of  Henry 
VIII.  In  fine,  the  inhabitants  of  that  quarter  of  Ireland, 
including  Wexford,  were  always  remarkable  for  their 
bravery  ;  and,  in  latter  times,  the  Wexfordians  had  the 
firmness  and  courage  to  resist  Cromwell,  after  the  rest 
of  the  island  was  intimidated,  partly  by  the  fame,  and 
partly  by  the  experience  of  his  cruelties  and  victories. 

Were  it  not  for  these  circumstances,  Ferns  would  at 
present  excite  little  consideration,  being  otherwise  mean 
and  of  little  importance. 

Bunclody,  now  Newtownbarry,  is  situated  partly  in 
the  county  of  Wexford,  and  partly  in  the  county  of  Car- 
low,  forty-nine  miles  from  Dublin,  and  ten  north  of  En- 
niscorthy  on  the  Slaney,  where  the  situation  is  admirably 
beautiful ;  and  although  Newtownbarry  cannot  assume 
the  name  of  a  town,  in  its  strictest  sense,  it  is  incompa- 
rable as  a  village.  Its  importance  in  a  military  point  of 
view,  pronounces  it  one  of  the  principal  keys  of  the 
county  of  Wexford. 

Feathard,  Bannow,  and  Clomines,  were  boroughs,  but 
long  since  have  fallen  into  decay  ;  the  silver  and  lead 
mines  in  their  neighbourhood,  when  worked,  made  them 
of  some  consequence. 

The  high  and  extensive  mountains  of  Black  Stairs  an*J 
Mount  Leinster,  already  mentioned,  separate  the  county 
of  Carlow  from  the  county  of  Wexford  ;  as  Croghau 
mountain,  with  others  of  inferior  note,  divide  the  latter 
from  the  county  of  Wicklow.  Within  the  county  itself 
are  the  mountains  of  Forth,  between  Wexford  and  Tagh- 
inon  ;  as  are  Camarus,  Carrigbyrne,  Slieykeltra,  and 
Brie,  between  Ross,  Taghmon,  and  Enniscorthy  ;  Slieye- 
buy,  which  rises  conically,  and  Carrigew,  near  Ferns, 
and  Tara  Hill,  north  of  Gorey  :  intermixed  with  several 
small  hills  and  eminences,  forming  an  undulative  ap- 
pearance, in  such  a  manner  that  no  part  of  the  county 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


can  be  termed  level,  except  the  baronies  of  Foi  fch  and 

Bargy,  south  of  the  town  of  Wexford.  On  the  southern 
coast  are  two  bays,  of  little  note  but  their  superficial  ap. 
pearance — those  of  Bally  tiegue  and  Bannow,  into  the 
latter  of  which  runs  the  river  of  that  name,  which  is  pass- 
able at  the  point  called  the  Scar,  at  low  water.  The 
Saltee  Islands,  round  which  there  is  a  considerable  lobster 
and  crab  fishery,  and  which  in  the  times  of  falconry 
were  famous  for  producing  the  most  excellent  hawks,  lie 
nine  miles  off  the  coast,  opposite  the  bay  of  Ballytiegue. 
Dun  cannon  fort  is  a  military  station  on  the  shore,  com- 
manding the  entrance  of  the  Barrow,  of  which  and  the 
Slaney  there  is  sufficient  mention  and  observation  made 
already:  and  surely  of  Bannow' s  Banks"  we  have 
heard  enough.  On  the  Barrow  are  three  ferries,  between 
the  county  of  Wexford  and  those  of  Kilkenny  and  Wa- 
terford :  the  two  first  are,  one  at  Mountgarret,  above 
Koss,  and  another  at  Ballinlaw,  below  Ross,  into  the 
county  of  Kilkenny  ;  the  third  is  below  the  confluence  of 
the  Suir  and  Barrow,  between  the  trifling  villages  of 
Ballyhack,  in  the  county  of  Wexford,  and  Passage,  in 
the  county  of  Waterford.  The  Bann  rises  in  the  county 
of  Wicklow,  passes  by  Ferns,  and  joins  the  Slaney  above 
Enniscorthy. 

Lough  Tra,  or  the  Lake  of  the  Ladies'  Island,  is  very 
singularly  circumstanced ;  it  receives  into  its  bosom  two 
or  three  small  rivulets,  whose  currents,  however,  are 
not  strong  enough  to  force  a  passage  in  opposition  to  a 
powerful  tide  rushing  directly  against  them,  and  conti- 
nually drifting  quicksand,  which  accumulates  so  as  to 
form  the  southern  bank  of  the  lake,  This  every  three 
or  four  years  occasions  an  inundation  of  the  adjacent 
country,  obliging  the  people  with  vast  labour  to  open  a 
way  through  the  mound  for  the  collected  waters  to  dis- 
embogue ;  but  thi3  is  soon  choked  up  again  by  the  like 
agglomeration  as  before.  The  lake  of  Tacumshin  is 
nearly  adjoining,  but  the  currents  with  which  it  is  sup- 
plied not  being  so  abundant  as  the  former,  the  task  of 
letting  out  the  waters  does  not  occur  for  many  year3  to- 
gether. 

The  ruins  of  several  abbeys  appear  throughout  the 
county ;  but  those  that  preserve  the  greatest  remains  of 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


21 


magnificence  are,  Dunbrody,  Tintern,  and  one  in  Wex- 
ford, founded  by  the  Earl  of  Pembroke,  Fitzstephen,  and 
De  Moreseo.  From  this  stock  the  family  of  Morres  in 
Ireland  claims  descent.  In  Wexford  there  were  two 
other  abbeys  also.  The  rest  we  take  in  the  order  of 
precedence  from  the  best  authorities.  Clomines  ;  Dune, 
on  the  little  river  Derry ;  the  abbey  of  St.  Mary's  in 
iTerns ;  St.  Mary's  of  Glass-carrig,  or  Green  rock,  on  the 
sea-coast  ;  Hore-town,  nearFookes's  mill;  one  atEnnis- 
conhy,  and  another  at  the  village  of  St.  John's,  not  far 
distant  from  that  town  ;  Kilclogan,  on  the  Barrow,  below 
Dunbrody  ;  and  two  at  Ross,  of  Minorets  and  Augustins. 

The  county  of  Wexford  contains  eight  baronies — 
namely,  Gorey,  Scarawalsh,  Ballaghkeen,  Bantry,  Shel- 
maliere,  Shelburne,  Bargy,  and  Forth,  in  which  are  one 
hundred  and  forty-two  parishes  ;  and  the  acreable  extent 
of  the  whole  is  computed  to  be  three  hundred  and  forty- 
two  thousand  nine  hundred,  or  live  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  square  miles.  Its  population,  according  to  Mr. 
Bushe's  estimate,  taking  the  houses  to  be  twenty  thousand 
four  hundred  and  forty-eight,  is  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
two  thousand  nine  hundred  and  twelve  inhabitants.  The 
town  of  Wexford  itself  contains  one  thousand  four  hun- 
dred and  twelve  houses,  and  upwards  of  nine  thousand 
souls ;  but  I  apprehend  the  population  is  underrated  by  Mr. 
Bushe,  as  I  hope  to  be  enabled  to  show  at  a  future  period. 

The  county  of  Wexford  has  been  long  remarkable  for 
the  peaceable  demeanour  of  its  inhabitants ;  and  their 
good  behaviour  and  industry  have  been  held  out  as  ex- 
emplary for  other  parts  of  Ireland  :  so  little  and  so  seldom 
infested  with  disturbance  or  riots  of  any  kind,  that  an 
execution  for  a  capital  crime  rarely  took  place  there  ;  and 
in  the  calendar  of  its  criminals,  it  has  as  few  on  record 
as  any  part  either  of  Great  Britain  or  Ireland.  This 
county  bore  such  reputation  that  landed  property  was 
considered  of  higher  value  in  it,  than  in  many  other  part9 
of  this  country  :  purchasers  not  hesitating  to  advance 
some  years'  rental  more  for  lands  in  the  county  of  Wex- 
ford, than  for  the  like  in  most  other  parts  of  Ireland. 
Even  at  the  time  that  different  parts  of  the  nation  were 
disturbed  by  the  riots  ~f  whiteboys,  &c.  they  scarcely 


22 


HISTORY  OF  THB 


made  their  appearance  here,  owing  to  the  vigilance  and 
exertions  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  county.  These  formed 
an  armed  association  at  Enniscorthy,  for  the  preservation 
of  the  peace,  under  the  command  of  Sir  Vesey  Colclough ; 
and  this  association  afterwards  became  a  corps  of  volun- 
teers, the  first  of  the  kind  in  the  land  ;  and  thus  can  the 
county  of  Wexford  boast  of  having  set  the  example,  and  of 
being  the  first  to  promote  the  illustrious  institution  of  the 
volunteers  of  Ireland.  Having  set  so  conspicuous  a  prece- 
dent, the  volunteers  of  the  county  of  Wexford,  by  their 
printed  resolutions,  fully  coincided  with  those  of  all  other 
parts,  of  the  nation ;  and,  in  the  spirit  of  the  times,  adopt- 
ed the  memorable  resolutions  of  the  meeting  at  Dungan- 
ron,  and  sent  their  deputation  to  the  grand  provincial 
meeting  of  Leinster,  assembled  at  the  guild-hall  in  the  thol- 
selof  Dublin,  on  Thursday  the  9th  of  October,  1783,  and  af- 
terwards to  the  general  convention  of  the  volunteers  of  Ire- 
land, held  at  the  Rotundaon  the  10th  November  following. 

The  liberality  of  the  times  invited  men_of  all  persua- 
sions to  the  volunteer  ranks — Catholics  stood  by  their 
Protestant  fellow-soldiers  in  the  glorious  cause,  and  proved 
themselves  worthy  of  the  liberal  confidence  that  dictated 
their  admission,  which  the  existing  laws  did  not  strictly 
sanction.  Amidst  this  general  spirit  of  toleration,  how- 
ever, I  am  sorry  to  remark  that  there  was  no  admission 
for  a  Catholic  among  the  volunteers  of  the  county  of 
Wexford — a  circumstance  the  more  remarkable,  as  it  was 
the  only  county  in  Ireland  that  exclusively  held  up  this 
prejudice.  There  were,  indeed,  some  Catholic  gentle- 
men of  the  county  of  Wexford  volunteers ;  but  they  be- 
longed  to  corps  in  other  counties,  and  on  this  account 
their  number  was  but  inconsiderable,  as  few  of  them  could 
undergo  the  expense,  or  waste  the  time  necessary  for  at- 
tending meetings  out  of  their  own  county ;  and  thus  the 
great  body  were  prevented  from  manifesting  their  senti- 
ments to  the  extent  of  their  wishes.  This  exclusion,  as 
unwise  as  impolitic,  must  be  attributed  to  that  bane  of 
pociety,  the  odious  prejudice  of  religious  bigotry,  so 
generally  inculcated  in  early  youth,  and  blended  with 
education  ;  which  sad  experience  proves  to  have  been  so 
fatal  to  the  interest  of  Ireland,  the  perpetual  bar  to  her 
otherwise  infallible  prosperity.    If  men  would  but  so  far 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


23 


direst  themselves  of  prejudice,  and  indulge  sentiments  of 
Christian  charity,  as  not  to  avoid  the  society  of  their 
fellow-men  on  account  of  a  difference  in  religious  opinion, 
the  great  advantage  would  be  soon  perceptible.  It  would 
be  quickly  found  that  uncharitable  principles  could  not 
be  cherished  by  any  denomination  of  people  professing 
the  religion  of  peace  and  love — the  delusion  would  vanish, 
and  the  unhallowed  monster  of  bigotry  and  prejudice 
would  soon  be  abhorred  and  abandoned.  Every  man  of 
serious  and  feeling  mind  must  think  it  a  very  awful  mis- 
fortune to  be  born  and  reared  in  a  country,  where  the 
great  majority  of  the  people  is  an  object  of  hatred  and 
horror  to  most  of  the  superior  order.  A  person  of  high 
rank,  entertaining  unfavourable  sentiments  of  a  commu- 
nity, must  prove  a  horrible  scourge  to  a  nation.  The 
balance  of  justice  may  be  placed  in  his  hands,  while  his 
prejudice  must  inevitably  prevent  its  impartial  adminis- 
tration ;  for  it  is  the  nature  of  prejudice  to  warp  and 
supersede  all  other  affections,  so  far  even  as  to  pervert 
the  fair  dictates  of  moral  truth  and  of  mild  and  generous 
humanity.  Alas  !  that  Ireland  should  verify  the  reflec- 
tion !  But  let  our  regret  avert  our  contemplation,  and 
direct  our  view  to  better  prospects. 

Since  the  time  of  volunteering,  till  of  late,  nothing 
very  remarkable  happened  in  the  county  of  Wexford. 
It  continued  to  flourish  from  the  memorable  period  of 
]  782  with  the  same  progressive  improvement  of  the  na- 
tion at  large,  still  holding  up  its  pre-eminence  in  the 
value  of  landed  property.  The  peasantry  were  certainly 
more  comfortably  situated  here  than  in  most  parts  of 
Ireland  south  of  Dublin,  but  far  from  enjoying  the  hap- 
piness experienced  by  the  like  class  of  people  in  other 
countries;  and  although  their  condition  was  less  wretched 
than  that  of  the  greater  portion  of  their  countrymen,  yet 
this  amelioration  must  be  attributed  more  to  their  own 
industry,  than  to  any  encouragement  or  indulgence  of 
their  landlords.  Many  gentlemen  becoming  needy  by 
dissipation  and  extravagance,  feel  indispensable  necessity 
to  support  accustomed  luxury  by  wresting  occasional 
supplies  from  the  hard  labour  of  a  wretched  and  depen- 
dent tenantry,  whose  calamitous  appearance  (enough  to 
send  horror  to  the  soul  of  humanity)  is  unnoticed  in  the 


24 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


general  view  of  misery  and  distress  which  Ireland  exhi« 
bits  as  a  singular  and  melancholy  spectacle  to  the  world. 
Such  are  the  men  who  detest  the  simple  hind  that  cul« 
tivates  their  lands,  and  who  calumniate  to  other  countries 
the  subdued  and  crawling  peasant  of  their  own — whose 
ears  are  to  be  gratified,  whose  hearts  are  cheerfully  de- 
lighted by  a  defamatory,  rancorous,  and  indiscriminate 
reviling  of  their  countrymen. — calumnies  that,  if  directed 
against  their  fellow-natives,  would  excite  horror  and  in- 
dignation in  the  breasts  of  the  gentry  of  any  other  coun- 
try in  Europe,  or  perhaps  on  the  globe. 

In  Ireland,  a  good  and  kind  landlord  is  a  rare  blessing ; 
and  a  traveller,  in  his  passage  through  the  country,  must 
readily  distinguish  the  fostering  care  and  benevolent 
superintendence  of  such,  wherever  to  be  found.  It  is 
easy  to  gain  the  affections  of  the  warm-hearted  Irish.  If 
a  person  of  rank  deigns  but  to  pay  them  those  attentions 
which  are  accounted  but  common  care  of  the  lower 
classes  in  other  countries,  he  is  universally  beloved  ;  and: 
on  his  approach  delight  beams  on  the  countenance  of  the 
neighbourhood  around  him ;  so  that  it  is  much  to  be  won- 
dered at,  that  more  are  not  found  to  purchase  at  so  easy 
a  rate  the  love  and  attachment  of  a  generous  and  inge- 
nuous people.  This,  however,  the  generality  of  land- 
lords forfeit  for  a  rack-rent  on  their  lands ;  and  not 
unfrequently  even  some  who  may  feel  a  better  disposition, 
see  their  lands  occupied  by  a  still  more  miserable  pea- 
santry if  possible,  and  incur  equal  disgrace  with  the 
unrelenting,  by  parcelling  out,  to  support  a  false  con- 
sequence,  their  estates  in  freeholds  to  middle-men — a  set 
of  harpies  so  hardened,  as  to  view  with  the  coldest  un- 
concern the  most  distressing  scenes  of  misery ;  who  hold 
it  meritorious  to  wrest  the  last  farthing  from  the  toilsome 
and  laborious  industry  of  starved  and  naked  wretched- 
ness. This  evil  was  most  severely  felt  by  the  Catholics, 
who  could  not,  till  very  lately,  become  freeholders ;  and 
the  grievance  arose  from  their  being  deprived  of  the  right 
of  elective  franchise,  which  constituted  the  lower  Pro- 
testants middle-men.  By  the  restoration  of  this  right, 
however,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that,  by  degrees,  as  leases 
shall  fall  in  to  the  landlords,  they  will  be  induced,  even 
by  self-interest,  to  multiply  their  freeholders,  by  setting 


IBISH  REBELLION. 


25 


their  lands  to  the  occupiers  of  the  soil ;  and  this  will 
revent  the  intercourse  of  landlord  and  tenant  from 
eing  intercepted  by  the  hated  interference  of  the  odious 
tribe  of  middle-men,  and  restore  some  degree  of  comfort 
and  happiness  to  the  people  at  large. 

Some  years  ago,  the  proprietors  of  land  in  the  baro- 
nies of  Forth  and  Bargy  determined  themselves  to  farm 
the  soil  occupied  by  their  tenant!,  who  were  on  this  ac- 
count obliged  to  seek  out  new  situations  in  other  parts 
of  the  county  of  Wexford.  Their  approved  mode  of 
tillage  was  soon  adopted  in  the  several  neighbourhoods 
where  they  settled,  and  through  them  a  new  spirit  of 
industry  was  generally  diffused,  and  the  face  of  the 
country  assumed  an  appearance  of  much  superior  advan- 
tage to  its  former  state.  For  although  the  county  of 
Wexford  produces  vast  quantities  of  grain,  particularly 
barley,  it  is  obtained  more  through  the  industry  of  the 
cultivators,  than  from  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  whose  bar- 
renness is  overcome  by  the  labour  and  exertions  of  'the 
inhabitants.  The  baronies  of  Forth  and  Bargy  are  occu- 
pied by  the  descendants  of  an  English  colony,  who  came 
over  with  Strongbow,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  II.  They 
have  ever  since,  in  the  course  of  upwards  of  six  hundred 
years,  lived  entirely,  with  little  or  no  admixture,  within 
themselves.  Until  of  late  years  it  was  a  rare  thing  to 
find  a  man  among  them  that  had  ever  gone  farther  from 
home  than  Wexford.  They  have  even  preserved  their 
language,  probably  without  alteration  or  improvement, 
as  may  be  presumed,  if  not  absolutely  concluded  from 
this  fact — that  although  there  was  no  regular  intercourse 
kept  up  between  these  and  a  sister  colony  from  Wales, 
who  at  the  same  time  settled  at  Fingal,  in  the  county  of 
Dublin,  and  have  continued  of  similar  unmixed  habits, 
yet  upon  the  accidental  meeting  of  individuals  from  both 
places,  they  can  completely  understand  each  other. 

Early  in  the  year  1792,  the  Catholics  of  Ireland  were 
invited  by  a  circular  letter,  inserted  in  the  public  papers, 
«igncd  Edward  Byrne,  to  depute  from  all  the  counties  and 
principal  towns,  delegates  to  meet  in  Dublin,  to  frame  a 
petition  to  the  king  for  a  redress  of  the  grievances  under 
which  they  laboured.  The  Catholics  of  the  county  of 
Wexford  elected  delegates,  according  to  the  plan  proposed, 


as 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


the  July  following,  and  the  whole  kingdom  at  the  same 
time  made  like  returns.  Resolutions  of  many  grand 
juries  and  corporations  were  published  soon  after,  repro- 
bating this  circular  letter.  Counties  were  assembled  for 
the  purpose  of  joining  in  the  outcry.  The  county  oi 
Wexford  was  convened  on  the  22d  of  September,  by 
Mr.  Derenzy,  the  high  sheriff,  to  take  into  consideration 
this  circular  letter  of  the  general  committee  of  the 
Catholics  of  Ireland,  signed  Edward  Byrne.  The  court 
was  opened  at  one  o'clock,  when  Mr.  Maxwell  was  about 
to  produce  resolutions,  but  the  Hon.  Francis  Hutchinson 
having  first  risen,  and  being  in  possession  of  the  chair, 
after  a  manly  and  eloquent  speech  of  some  length,  pro- 
posed resolutions  declaratory  of  the  rights  of  the  subject. 
The  first  resolution,  which  asserted  the  right  to  petition 
the  throne  or  either  house  of  parliament,  though  for 
some  time  attempted  to  be  got  rid  of  by  Mr.  C.  Dawson, 
and  an  objection  upon  a  point  of  order,  was  at  length 
unanimously  adopted ;  but  the  other  resolutions  proposed 
by  Mr.  Hutchinson,  though  equally  constitutional  and 
self-evident,  were  rejected  by  the  party  who  avowedly 
came  to  oppose  every  measure  which  might  either  tend 
to  gratify  the  feelings  or  administer  a  hope  of  obtaining 
justice  to  the  Roman  Catholics.  Mr.  Hutchinson,  how- 
ever, most  ably  supported  his  motion,  and  was  power- 
fully assisted  by  his  brother,  the  Honourable  Christopher 
Hely  Hutchinson,  and  Captain  Sweetman,  who,  in  the 
most  energetic  language,  delivered  a  speedi  very  pro- 
phetic of  events  that  have  since  taken  place;  but  no 
one  argument  was  adduced  by  his  opponents  to  contro- 
vert the  principles  which  he  sought  to  establish. 

On  the  question,  a  division  took  place,  when  the  num- 
ber of  the  silent  freeholders  who  opposed  a  declaration 
of  the  unalienable  rights  of  the  subject,  appeared  to  be 
one  hundred  and  ten  against  forty-five ; '  three  or  four 
gentlemen  of  the  respectable  and  liberal-minded  mino 
rity  possessed  more  landed  property  in  the  county  than 
the  whole  of  the  majority,  so  that  the  Roman  Catholics 
had  the  satisfaction  to  see  almost  every  man  of  con- 
siderable landed  property,  and  of  legal  and  constitutional 
information,  go  out  on  the  division  with  them. 

The  business  being  then  disposed  of,  Mr.  Maxwell 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


27 


produced  his  string  of  resolutions,  but  declined  making 
any  comment  on  them,  alleging,  that  it  was  intended 
they  should  be  presented  by  another  gentleman,  whose 
attendance  at  the  meeting  was  prevented  by  family  rea- 
sons, and  that  they  had'only  that  morning  been  put  into 
his  hands.  It  was  expected,  that  as  the  proposer  of  the 
resolutions  had  declined  to  go  into  the  discussion  of 
them,  some  other  gentleman  who  acted  with  him  would 
have  undertaken  to  explain  to  the  freeholders  the  expe- 
dience or  necessity  of  entering  into  measures  which 
appeared  to  be  calculated  for  no  other  purpose  but  to 
create  animosities  between  Protestants  and  Roman  Ca- 
tholics, and  to  divide  the  former.  The  other  gentlemen 
continuing  silent  on  the  merits,  but  confident  in  their 
strength  of  numbers,  and  loud  in  their  call  for  the  ques- 
tion, though  an  adjournment  was  proposed,  it  being  dark 
night,  and  several  moderate  men  declared  their  wish 
to  have  a  day's  time  coolly  to  consider  before  the  county 
should  be  committed  to  an  angry  measure,  it  became  ne- 
cessary for  the  gentlemen  on  the  other  side  to  commence 
a  debate,  which  continued  until  past  ten  o'clock,  when, 
without  even  attempting  to  answer  one  argument  of  the 
many  that  were  urged  against  the  resolutions,  the  same 
majority,  who  had  rejected  the  constitutional  and  con- 
ciliatory motion  made  in  the  morning  by  the  Honourable 
Francis  Hutchinson,  carried  their  point.  An  address 
to  the  county  members  was  then  proposed,  of  the  same 
purport  as  the  resolutions,  but  was  afterwards  withdrawn. 

The  next  public  meeting  of  the  county,  convened  by 
the  magistrates  in  the  absence  of  the  sheriff,  was  held 
in  Wexford,  on  Friday  the  11th  of  January,  1793,  at 
which  Walter  Hore,  Esq.  presided.  The  meeting  ma- 
nifested, by  public  resolutions,  their  attachment  to  the 
constitution  in  king,  lords,  and  commons;  the  necessity 
of  a  reform  in  the  commons'  house  of  parliament,  in- 
cluding persons  of  all  religious  persuasions — an  object 
which  they  declared  they  would  endeavour  to  accomplish 
by  every  legal  and  constitutional  means  in  their  power. 
It  was  further  resolved  that  the  people  in  the  county  of 
Wexford  were  perfectly  peaceable  and  quiet ;  no  kind  of 
seditious  practices  known  ;  nor  the  least  symptom  of  or 
tendency  to  riot ;  but  that  lest  such  should  be  intended 


88 


HISTORY  OF  THB 


by  any  faction,  they  declared  that  all  attempts  to  intro* 
duce  any  new  form  of  government  into  the  country,  or  in 
any  manner  to  impair  or  corrupt  the  three  essential  parts 
of  the  constitution  consisting  of  king,  lords,  and  com- 
mons, they  would  resist  with  all  their  force  and  energy. 
These  resolutions  were  forwarded  to  the  representatives 
for  the  county  in  parliament,  and  inserted  in  the  public 
papers. 

On  the  same  day  a  society  was  formed  in  the  town  of 
Wexford,  under  the  denomination  of  the  Friends  of  the 
Constitution,  Liberty,  and  Peace,  This  association  was 
attended  by  a  great  many  of  the  most  respectable  and 
independent  gentlemen  of  the  county  ;  and  their  number 
increased  considerably  at  different  successive  meetings. 
They  from  time  to  time  passed  and  published  resolutions, 
expressive  of  their  sentiments,  views  and  opinions,  simi- 
lar to  those  passed  and  published  by  societies  of  the  like 
nature  in  Dublin,  and  many  other  parts  of  Ireland.  But 
they  have  long  since  ceased  to  exist,  and  never  tended 
to  disturb  public  tranquillity.  They  were,  indeed,  the 
friends  of  peace  and  harmony ;  but  their  powers  were 
not  proportionate  to  their  wishes,  and  their  benevolent 
efforts  failed  of  the  intended  effect. 

When,  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1793,  the  militia  re- 
giments were,  pursuant  to  an  act  of  the  legislature,  em- 
bodied in  Ireland,  it  occasioned  great  commotion  in 
different  parts  of  the  country,  from  some  silly  miscon- 
ceptions that  were  dispersed  through  the  populace  with 
regard  to  the  object  of  the  enrolment.  It  had  been 
rumoured  that  the  people  were  to  be  cajoled  into  the 
militia  regiments,  to  be  torn  from  their  families,  and 
sent  on  foreign  service.  But  notwithstanding  this,  the 
measure  was  carried  into  effect  in  the  county  of  Wex- 
ford, perhaps  with  less  ferment  than  in  any  other  part  of 
Ireland.  I  had  the  best  possible  opportunity  of  knowing 
the  fact,  having  been  appointed  a  deputy  governor  of  the 
county. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year,  some  tithe-farmers  took 
tithes  in  the  county  of  Wexford,  which  had  been  for- 
merly rented  by  others.  These,  unwilling  to  lose  their 
prey  without  an  effort  to  retain  it,  excited  the  populace 
to  resist  the  demands  of  the  new  undertakers,  whom  they 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


called  innovators  and  intruders.  Soon  after,  oaths  were 
framed  in  imitation  of  similar  practices  in  Munstej. 
From  the  neighbourhood  of  Tottenham  Green,  extending 
towards  Mount  Leinster,  and  to  that  part  of  the  county 
of  Wexford  called  the  DufFrey,  the  inhabitants  were 
generally  sworn.  On  Sundays,  a  great  concours^  of 
people  attended  at  the  different  places  of  worship — as 
well  Protestant  churches  as  Catholic  chapels— and  swore 
the  several  congregations  to  resist  paying  tithes  under 
certain  restrictions,  with  a  modification  of  the  fees  of 
the  Catholic  clergy,  and  an  injunction  to  swear  their 
neighbouring  parishes.  Thus  about  one-eighth  of  the 
county  was  sworn,  and,  in  all  probability,  the  delusion 
might  have  generally  spread,  but  for  the  timely  exertions 
of  several  of  the  country  gentlemen,  who  used  all  their 
influence  to  prevent  their  tenants  and  neighbours  from 
joining  in  such  unlawful  pursuits.  Different  magis- 
trates also  attended,  with  parties  of  the  military,  at 
several  places  of  worship,  and  so  put  a  stop  to  the  gene- 
ral diffusion  of  this  symptom  of  riot. 

On  Sunday  the  7th  July,  however,  a  man  was  taken 
in  a  chapel-yard  near  Enniscorthy,  in  the  act  of  admi- 
nistering those  unlawful  oaths,  and  sent  into  the  town  a 
prisoner.  The  report  of  this  fact  being  quickly  circu 
lated  through  the  country,  excited  those  that  had  been 
already  sworn  to  rise  in  a  body  on  the  Monday  imme- 
diately following,  for  this  man's  liberation.  Intelligence 
of  the  approach  of  these  people  having  been  received  at 
Enniscorthy,  a  party  of  the  fifty-sixth  regiment,  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Vero,  a  magistrate,  came  up  with 
the  rioters  at  the  hill  of  Scobie.  Here  Mr.  Vero  re- 
ceived an  anonymous  letter,  as  a  message  from  the  popu- 
lace, requesting  he  would  liberate  the  prisoner,  who  was 
represented  to  be  a  silly,  insignificant  fellow.  Mr.  Vero, 
from  motives  of  humanity,  it  is  to  be  presumed,  although 
he  had  a  military  force  to  act  with  him,  thought  it  most 
prudent  not  to  resist  the  demand.  The  prisoner  was-set 
at  liberty ;  and  this  so  pleased  the  people,  that  the  air 
was  rent  with  their  shouts  of  joy ;  and  after  a  general 
volley  of  what  fire-arms  they  had  that  would  go  off,  they 
dispersed  to  their  several  homes,  without  committing 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


further  outrage,  and  the  military  marched  back  to  Ennia 
corthy. 

On  the  same  day,  Mr.  Maxwell,  (now  Colonel  Barry, ) 
at  the  head  of  a  troop  of  horse,  in  the  capacity  of  & 
magistrate,  set  out  from  Newtownbarry,  scoured  the 
country  all  along  as  be  passed  ;  found  sixteen  men  drink- 
ing in  an  ale-house  on  his  way,  took  them  all  and  con- 
ducted them  to  Enniscorthy.  The  sight  of  so  many  pri- 
soners, being  a  very  extraordinary  event  in  the  county 
of  Wexford,  alarmed  the  peaceable  inhabitants  of  the 
town.  Mr.  Richards,  the  high  sheriff,  repaired  im- 
mediately to  Enniscorthy,  from  whence,  with  all  possible 
speed,  he  dispatched  messengers  to  convey  this  alarming 
intelligence  to  all  the  gentlemen  of  the  neighbourhood  ; 
requesting  their  assistance  at  a  meeting  appointed  to  be 
held  the  next  day  at  Enniscorthy.  Notwithstanding  the 
shortness  of  the  notice,  a  great  number  of  gentlemen 
attended  on  Tuesday,  the  9th  of  July,  at  the  Bear  Inn, 
in  the  town  of  Enniscorthy.  I  was  one  of  those  present. 
An  association  was  then  formed  for  the  preservation  of 
the  peace  of  the  county;  all  the  well-disposed  were 
invited  to  join,  and  subscriptions  were  immediately  en- 
tered into,  to  prosecute  the  disturbers  of  the  public 
peace.  In  a  -short  time  this  association  was  composed  of 
almost  all  the  resident  gentlemen  of  the  county  :  and 
their  meetings  were  afterwards  held,  from  time  to  time, 
at  Enniscorthy. 

On  the  first  day  of  meeting,  an  inquiry  into  the  case 
of  the  sixteen  prisoners  took  place ;  and  various  were  the 
opinions  offered  on  the  occasion.  I  was  sorry  to  observe 
in  the  onset,  that  an  inclination  prevailed  to  attribute 
the  riots  to  a  spirit  of  religious  bigotry  ;  but  the  futility 
of  the  prejudiced  arguments  were  so  manifestly  contrary 
to  the  facts,  that  this  ground  was  soon  abandoned.  The 
result  of  the  inquiry  proved  that  the  rioters  had  assem- 
bled, the  day  before,  in  great  numbers,  on  Scobie  Hill, 
in  a  hostile  manner,  determined  to  liberate  the  prisoner 
by  force,  if  attempted  to  be  detained.  The  magistrate 
who  attended  on  the  occasion,  was  deemed  to  have  acted 
as  he  did  from  an  idea  oC  mistaken  lenity,  although  his 
indulgent  conduct  had  so  pleased  the  people,  that  they 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


II 


dispersed  without  haying  committed  any  act  that  the 
laws  of  the  country  could  punish;  for  at  that  time  it 
was  necessary  to  read  the  riot  act,  to  constitute  any  as- 
semblage an  illegal  meeting.  This  measure  was  not  re- 
sorted to  in  the  present  instance,  and  if  it  had,  the  con- 
sequent dispersion  of  the  multitude  must  have  disarmed 
the  law. 

It  was,  however,  thought  necessary  to  impress  on  the 
minds  of  the  people,  that  the  magistracy  would  at  all 
times  resist  the  demands  of  a  riotous  and  armed  force 
with  determined  firmness  ;  and  as  among  the  sixteen 
prisoners  there  were  two  taken  with  fire-arms,  it  was 
judged  expedient  to  commit  these  to  Wexford  gaol,  and 
liberate  the  other  fourteen,  on  giving  bail  for  good  be- 
haviour. Accordingly,  these  two  men  (whom  the  law 
could  not  punish  any  more  than  those  who  were  liberated,) 
were  conducted  under  a  military  guard  from  Enniscorthy, 
through  a  part  of  the  country  that  escaped  being  sworn, 
to  the  east  of  the  Slaney,  and  lodged  in  the  gaol  of 
Wexford. 

On  the  morning  of  the  11th,  great  numbers  of  people 
assembled  from  Newtownbarry  to  the  Duffrey,  and  to 
Tottenham-green,  searching  the  different  houses  on  their 
way,  on  the  western  side  of  the  river  Slaney,  making 
towards  "Wexford,  and  forcing  every  man  they  met,  to 
come  along  with  them.  This  concourse  of  people  being 
observed  by  many  of  the  country  folk,  such  as  could 
procure  boats  to  convey  them  to  the  eastern  side  of  the 
river,  fled  on  their  approach,  and  thus  escaped  being 
compelled  to  constitute  a  part  of  the  multitude ;  but 
still  their  numbers  were  considerably  accumulated  in  the 
course  of  their  progress. 

On  this  morning,  also,  an  anonymous  letter  was  re- 
ceived in  Wexford  by  a  respectable  inhabitant  of  the 
town,  requesting  he  might  apply  to  the  magistrates  to 
liberate  the  two  prisoners — threatening,  in  case  of  refu- 
sal, that  a  body  of  some  thousands  would  come  to  take 
them  by  force.  Little  notice  was  taken  of  this  threat, 
nor  did  the  inhabitants  apprehend  any  alarm,  until  about 
three  o'clock,  a  gentleman,  who  had  been  forced  along 
by  the  multitude,  was  seen  galloping  into  the  town,  de- 
claring that  he  had  been  sent  to  inform  the  magistrates 


52 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


that  an  immense  concourse  of  people,  then  not  more  than 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant,  and  of  apparent  determina- 
tion, were  coming  to  enforce  the  enlargement  of  the 
prisoners.  Lieutenant  Buckby,  of  the  fifty -sixth,  who 
had  been  in  Wexford  that  day  alone,  on  regimental  busi- 
ness, was,  on  his  return  to  join  his  command  at  Tagh- 
mon,  seized  upon,  and  forced  to  come  back  with  the 
rioters  to  Wexford.  In  a  few  minutes,  about  fifty  sol- 
diers of  the  fifty- sixth  regiment,  with  three  magistrates, 
headed  by  the  brave  Major  Vallotton,  marched  out  to 
meet  the  rioters,  who  were  all  drawn  up  at  the  upper 
end  of  John-street,  on  the  road  leading  to  Taghmon,  in 
readiness  to  receive  them.  The  major,  humanely  in- 
tending to  expostulate,  advanced  a  few  paces  before  his 
party  ;  but  on  seeing  one  of  his  officers  a  prisoner  with 
the  rioters,  his  benevolent  intentions  were  dissipated; 
and  losing  all  patience,  he  made  a  blow  of  his  sword  at 
the  man  who  had  been  induced  to  meet  him  in  expostu- 
lation, and  wounded  him  severely.  This  provoked  re- 
sistance, and  he  in  return  received  a  desperate  wound 
in  the  groin,  of  which  he  languished  for  some  days  and 
died. 

Thus  perished  the  gallant  Vallotton,  who  had  distin- 
guished himself  at  the  siege  of  Gibraltar,  under  the 
immortal  Elliot,  as  first  aide-de-camp  to  that  general ! 
Though  parleying  with  rioters  may  not  at  all  times,  per- 
haps, be  advisable;  yet,  when  once  entered  upon,  the 
dignity  of  temper  should  be  maintained,  and  it  is  much  to 
be  lamented,  that  the  major  did  not  continue  his  original 
disposition ;  for  though  it  should  not  stand  the  test  of 
authoritative  severity,  yet  the  event  might  have  proved 
as  bloodless  as  on  the  previous  occasion  near  Ennis- 
corthy.  An  attack  on  both  sides  immediately  took  place, 
the  contest  was  but  short.  In  a  few  minutes,  the  rioters 
gave  way  in  all  directions.  Those  who  had  been  forced 
along  by  them,  were  the  first  to  sheer  off,  when  they 
found  an  opportunity,  over  hedges  and  ditches,  wherever 
they  thought  they  could  best  make  their  escape ;  num- 
bers not  knowing  whither  they  were  flying.  It  may  not 
be  unworthy  of  remark,  that  Captain  Boyd,  then  of  the 
Wexford  militia,  had  been  to  Taghmon  in  the  morning, 
with  a  party  of  the  fifty-sixth  regiment,  to  escort  a  pri- 


IRISH  RETJKLLIOJ* 


■ODer;  and  was  now  on  Iiis  return  to  Wexford  as  far  as 
Bettiville,  having  no  other  possible  intimation  of  what 
bad  happened,  but  the  confused  flight  of  the  affrighted 
rabhle.  He  lay  in  ambuscade  for  their  approach,  and, 
from  behind  the  ditches,  shot  numbers  of  the  fugitives. 
The  weather  being  intensely  warm,  occasioned  the  death 
of  a  great  many  of  the  wounded,  who  might  otherwise* 
recover;  but  lest  their  wciX-ida  might  betray  them,  they 
did  not  apply  for  medical  assistance.  Many,  too,  who 
were  badly  wounded,  ran  as  far  as  they  could,  and.  be- 
ing exhausted,  crawled  for  concealment  into  the  r^ii^V.  es, 
where  tkey  perished,  and  whence  the  lirst  In  tun:  it  i  m  of 
their  fate  was  conveyed  by  the  putrid  exhalation  from 
their  bodies.  Eleven  lay  dead  on  the  scene  of  action  in 
John-street ;  one  of  whom  was  a  poor  cobbler  of  the 
town,  shot  by  accident.  The  others  were  publicly  ex- 
posed for  some  time,  and  were  at  length  identified. 
Among  them  there  appeared  four  freeholders,  who  had 
been  polled  at  the  preceding  election  for  the  county. 
At  that  time,  the  Catholics  of  Ireland  could  not  be  free- 
holders in  their  native  land,  by  the  existing  laws  of  which 
they  were  excluded  from  that  privilege.  In  the  hurry 
and  fright  of  the  action,  eight  men  sought  refuge  in  a 
hay-loft,  where  they  were  discovered  after  the  conflict, 
made  prisoners,  and  committed  to  gaol.  One  of  them 
died  of  his  wounds,  two  became  informers,  and  five  were 
brought  to  trial,  condemned  at  the  ensuing  assizes,  and 
executed  on  the  26th  of  July  following.  One  of  these 
men,  who  had  been  in  town  that  day  to  market,  was  on 
his  return  home  obliged  to  come  back  with  the  rioters ; 
and  although  he  was  proved  a  man  of  most  unexception- 
able character,  yet  such  was  the  idea  entertained  of  the 
necessity  of  public  example,  that  his  character,  or  the 
the  circumstance  of  innoeence,  did  not  save  him. 

The  inhabitants  of  Wexford,  to  prevent  such  another 
surprise,  armed  and  embodied  themselves  in  four  different 
divisions,  officered  by  several  gentle  men  who  had  served 
in  the  army;  and  all  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
(now  General)  Nichoils.  He  gave  his  orders  every  day 
on  parade,  and  different  patrols  perambulated  the  town 
and  its  vicinity  every  night.  Two  pieces  of  cannon  were 
planted  on  that  part  of  the  barrack- hill  which  coinmandf 


34 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


the  whole  street,  and  the  entranoe  to  the  gaol.;  sad  fotu 
others  were  ready  to  hp  brought  to  any  quarter  in  case 
of  emergency. 

During  this  system  of  precaution,  a  soldier  of  the  fifty- 
sixth  gave  the  alarm  to  his  comrades  in  the  barracks, 
that,  as  he  had  been  passing  through  a  church-yard  m 
the  town  he  was  attacked  by  some  of  the  inhabitants, 
who  threatened  him  and  his  regiment  with  destruction 
for  having  fired  against  the  people ;  and  that  at  last,  in 
the  affray,  he  had  been  fortunate  enough  to  escape  with 
the  loss  of  some  of  his  fingers.  This  story,  artfully  told 
by  the  wounded  man,  roused  the  fury  of  the  soldiers  to 
such  a  pitch,  that  they  made  preparation,  and  were  acfri  • 
ally  on  the  point  of  sallying  forth  from  their  barracks, 
to  take  signal  vengeance  of  the  towns -people.  It  re- 
quired all  the  exertions  and  authority  of  their  officers  to 
restrain  them  ;  but  this  they  at  length  happily  effected. 

The  association  for  preserving  the  peace  of  the  county 
assembled  always  at  Enniscorthy  (that  being  the  most 
central  situation).  The  day  after  this  affair  had  been 
appointed  for  one  of  their  meetings.  To  this  meeting  a 
gentleman  was  despatched  from  Wexford,  with  the  fore- 
going melancholy  intelligence ;  and  an  express  request, 
that  a  suitable  reward  would  be  offered  for  the  appre- 
hension of  the  perpetrators  of  the  horrid  deed.  This 
would  have  been  immediately  carried  into  effect,  and 
orders  sent  by  that  night's  post  to  have  the  intelligence 
generally  circulated  through  the  medium  of  the  Dublin 
papers,  had  it  not  so  happened  that  there  was  not  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  the  members  of  the  secret  committee  of 
the  association  present,  to  order  the  disbursement  of  the 
necessary  expenses,  they  having  the  command  of  the 
funds.  But  before  a  competent  consenting  number  of 
these  could  be  collected,  it  was  discovered  that  the  sol- 
dier had  been  the  perpetrator  of  the  horrid  deed  himself, 
and  had  been  induced  to  cut  off  his  fingers  to  prevent 
his  going  abroad  with  his  regiment,  then  under  orders 
for  foreign  service.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  prudent  ex- 
ertions of  the  officers,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  this 
Imposture  would  have  been  attended  with  dreadful  con- 
sequences before  the  real  discovery  could  be  made.  The 
peace  of  tuo  county  was  attended  to  with  the  greatest 


IRISH  REBELLION* 


activity  and  vigilance  by  the  association  ;  but,  in  fact, 
after  the  affair  at  Wexford  on  the  1 1th  of  July,  17^,  be. 
fore  detailed,  no  apparent  symptom  or  even  a  disposition 
to  riot  could  be  traced. 

At  the  meetings  of  the  association,  I  perceived  with 
regret  an  insidious  spirit,  eager  and  active  to  attach  the 
entire  odium  of  the  disturbances  exclusively  on  the  Ca- 
tholics ;  although  the  damning  public  spectacle,  on  the 
exposure  of  the  killed  at  Wexford,  should  surely  ever 
have  deterred  barefaced  calumny  and  prejudiced  misre- 
presentation from  future  exhibition.  Yet  the  malignant 
traducers  of  their  countrymen  to  foreigners  believed,  oa* 
affected  to  believe  this  vile  reproach  on  mere  assertion. 
In  any  other  part  of  the  world  the  uttering  of  such  gross 
detraction  would  bring  down  public  execration,  and  per- 
haps  endanger  the  personal  safety  of  the  hated  reptile 
that  would  dare,  in  this  unqualified  manner,  to  denounce 
a  whole  community.  Ireland,  however,  which,  by  a 
peculiar  providence,  is  freed  from  any  other,  abounds 
with  these  monsters  in  human  form,  who  batten  on  the 
ruin  of  public  prosperity. 

These  groundless  insinuations  were  carried  to  such 
lengths,  that,  even  in  the  House  of  Lords,  in  the  assem- 
blage of  the  peers  of  the  realm,  Lord  Farnham  asserted, 
with  confidence,  that  the  riots  in  the  county  of  Wexford 
had  become  seriously  alarming  ;  that  the  people  held 
nightly  meetings,  and  from  parish  to  parish  had  sworn 
not  to  pay  rents,  tithes,  or  taxes,  and  that  the  lower 
orders  of  Catholics  had  risen  in  consequence  of  a  disap- 
pointed expectation  of  receiving  ten  pounds  a  year,  as 
the  consequent  advantage  of  their  emancipation,  which 
they  had  been  promised  by  their  delegates.  This  Lord 
Farnham  alleged  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  on  the 
authority  of  letters  received  by  himself  from  a  quarter 
the  most  respectable,  he  said,  in  the  county  of  Wex- 
ford. 

My  surprise  was  great,  indeed,  on  finding  such  alle- 
gations thus  strongly  asserted,  and  become  the  subject  of 
parliamentary  discussion  ;  knowing,  as  I  did,  that  the 
riots  had  never  assumed  this  serious  complexion,  nor  had 
in  any  degree  furnished  ground  for  such  exaggerated 
statement.    Being  a  Catholic  delegate  for  the  county,  1 


S6 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


naturally  felt  an  anxiety  to  discover  whence  originated 
thi6  extraordinary  information ;  and  thought  the  bests 
appeal,  at  the  time,  would  be  a  meeting  of  the  associa- 
tion, composed  of  almost  all  the  respectable  gentlemeu 
of  the  county.  Here  I  complained  that  the  country  was 
calumniated,  and  requested  to  know,  if  I  could  be  in- 
formed who  it  was  that  had  conveyed  such  strange  and 
unwarranted  intelligence  to  Lord  Farnham  ?  I  took  the 
liberty  also  to  declare  that,  let  him  be  who  he  may,  if 
the  facts  existed  to  his  conviction,  he  should  have  pro- 
duced satisfactory  evidence  of  that  conviction  to  the  asso- 
ciation, the  natural  and  avowed  guardians  of  the  peace 
of  the  county.  I  further  urged,  that  not  above  one- 
eighth  of  the  county  had  ever  been  in  a  state  of  distur- 
bance ;  that  the  rioters  appeared  to  be  a  motley  multitude 
of  all  persuasions,  to  whom  religion  appeared  to  be  an 
object  of  the  least  concern. 

The  result  was,  after  a  most  minute  investigation,  that 
the  monstrous  charge  was  deemed  a  gross  and  unfounded 
calumny  ;  and  whatever  latitude  prejudiced  conversation 
might  have  taken  at  the  festive  tables  of  some  gentle- 
men, not  one  of  them  presumed  to  come  forward  in 
support  of  the  principles  of  bigotry  against  stubborn 
truth  and  undeniable  facts.  But  had  not  this  inquiry 
been  instituted,  it  is  very  probable  that  the  un refuted 
calumnies  against  the  county  of  Wexford  might  have 
led  to  consequences  as  fatal  and  deplorable  as  happened, 
from  like  causes,  in  the  counties  of  Meath  and  Louth. 
These,  however,  I  will  not  attempt  to  detail,  having 
limited  myself,  for  the  present,  to  the  transactions  of  my 
native  county,  awaiting  an  opportunity  of  general  infor- 
mation. 

The  Catholics  of  the  county  met  at  Wexford,  on  the 
30th  of  July,  for  the  purpose  of  publicly  avowing  their 
sentiments  and  principles.  To  this  effect  they  adopted 
resolutions  which  were  given  to  the  world  in  all  the  pub- 
lic papers  of  the  day. 

In  the  year  1795,  when  Lord  Fitzwilliam's  recall  from 
the  government  of  Ireland  was  made  known,  the  free- 
holders and  other  inhabitants  of  the  county  of  Wexford 
were  summoned  to  meet  on  purpose  to  deliberate  on  this 
unexpected  event.    In  the  absence  ot  the  sheriff,  the 


imsn  kebellto*. 


rammons  was  signed  by  Cornelias  Grogan,  Isaac  Cor- 
nock,  Thomas  Grogan  Knox,  Harvey  Hay,  an«l  John 
Grogan,-  magistrates  of  the  county.  The  meeting,  which 
was  held  in  the  county  court-house  of  Wexford,  on  the 
23d  of  March,  was  very  numerously  attended.  Unani- 
mous resolutions  were  entered  into ;  a  petition  to  the 
king  was  voted  ;  and  Cornelius  Grogan,  Edward  Hay, 
and  Beauehamp  Bagnal  Harvey,  Esqrs.  were  appointed 
delegates  to  present  it  to  his  majesty.  An  address  to 
Lord  Fitewilliam  was  also  voted,  and  Sir  Thomas  Es- 
moiude.  and  Sir  Frederick  Flood,  Baronets,  and  William 
Harvey,  Esq.  were  appointed,  and  they  set  off  instantly 
for  Dublin,  to  present  it  to  the  lord  lieutenant,  who  was 
hourly  expected  to  leave  the  country.  The  regret  felt 
on  the  recall  of  this  nobleman,  even  whose  good  inten- 
tions produced  such  cordiality  and  harmony  amongst  all 
ranks  and  descriptions  of  people,  is  scareely  credible. 
I]ro"m  that  period  may  be  dated  the  origin  of  that  dread- 
ful state  of  calamity  and  misfortune  in  which  Ireland  lias 
been  since  involved  ;  for  it  is  now  evident  to  all,  that  had 
the  measures  intended  to  be  carried  into  effect  by  him 
been  adopted,  the  nation  would  have  continued  its 
happy  career  of  uncommon,  progressive  prosperity.  It 
was  proposed  to  his  lordship  by  the  British  cabinet  to 
carry  the  union  at  a  time  that  he  had  got  the  money 
bilis  passed,  and  was  pledged  to  the  country  to  have 
the  popular  measures  alluded  to  brought  forward  in  par- 
liament. It  was  even  suggested,  that  these  measures 
might  go  hand  in  hand  with  the  other  ;  but  he  preferred 
being  recalled  to  giving  his  support  to  a  business  that  so 
6trongly  met  his  disapprobation;  nor,  indeed,  is  it  at  all 
probable  that  the  Irish  legislature  and  people  would  have 
consented  at  that  day  to  yield  up  the  dignity  of  indepen- 
dence for  any  consideration  the  ministry  could  pretend  to 
offer. 

The  removal  of  Lord  Fitzwilliam  must  ever  be  consi- 
dered  as  one  of  the  greatest  misfortunes  that,  in  the 
revolution  of  ages,  has  befallen  this  devoted  nation.  It 
originated  a  train  of  calamitous  circumstances,  which  the 
disclosing  information  of  every  day  renders  more  and 
more  lameutable  to  the  friends  of  Ireland.  The  great 
majority  of  the  people  was  insulted ;  xmblic  faith  was 


33 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


violated ;  the  eup  of  redress  was  dashed  from  the  lips  (n 
expectation,  and  it  cannot  be  wondered  at  that  the  an  get 
of  disappointment  should  have  ensued.  Had  the  heal- 
ing balm  been  applied  at  the  critical  moment,  the  fever 
of  commotion  had  long  since  passed  its  crisis.  Had  the 
benevolent  measures  intended  by  that  nobleman  as  the 
basis  of  his  administration,  been  effected,  the  rankling 
wounds  of  division  and  distraction  were  for  ever  closed, 
nor  would  the  poison  of  prejudice  and  party-spirit  still 
threaten  convulsion  and  confusion  ;  but  harmony,  confi- 
dence and  peace,  would  reign  throughout  the  land. 

Being  one  of  those  who  had  been  chosen  to  present  the 
petition  of  the  county  of  Wexford  to  his  majesty,  I  pro- 
ceeded as  far  as  Dublin,  on  my  way  to  London,  with  my 
companions  in  appointment.  Here  it  was  thought  most 
advisable  to  get  individual  signatures  to  the  petition, 
rather  than  bear  it  with  those  of  the  chairman  and  secre- 
tary, who  had  signed  it  by  the  unanimous  order  of  the 
county  meeting.  My  brother  delegates  declined  going 
back,  and  I  undertook  the  task  alone,  at  the  moment  I 
was  going  into  the  packet-boat  to  sail  for  England  :  my 
having  sailed  was  even  announced  in  the  public  papers. 
I  returned  to  the  county  of  Wexford,  was  indefatigable 
in  my  exertions,  aiad  no  greater  proof  can  be  adduced  of 
the  general  public  approbation  of  the  measure,  and  of  the 
unanimity  of  sentiment  prevalent  on  the  occasion,  than 
the  account  of  my  success.  In  the  space  of  one  week  I 
was  able  to  procure  twenty-two  thousand  two  hundred  and 
fifty-one  signatures,  amon^,  whom  were  all  the  independent 
and  respectable  gentlemen  of  the  county.  I  then  pro- 
ceeded to  London,  and  had  the  honor  of  presenting  the 
petition,  with  all  the  signatures,  to  his  majesty,  on  the 
22d  of  April,  1795,  at  the  levee  at  St.  James's,  along  with 
my  brother  delegates,  and  we  met  with  a  gracious  re- 
ception. 

Not  many  years  ago  the  county  of  Wexford  could  boast 
of  independent  principles,  and  the  public  spirit  of  its 
gentry  was  conspicuous.  This,  it  may  be  observed,  was 
chiefly  owing  to  the  great  number  of  resident  landlords, 
whose  properties  were  so  equally  divided,  that  there  were 
comparatively  but  few  overgrown  fortunes  among  them. 
While  this  state  of  easy  parity  prevailed,  50  long  lasted 


1 

I 
1 

! 
! 

JR1STT  REBELLION.  39 

the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  county.    At  that  time 
respectable  characters  voluntarily  engaged  themselves  to 
preserve  and  maintain  public  order,  and  it  is  easy  to  con- 
ceive, that  the  laws  of  a  country  will  be  well  and  cheer- 
fully obeyed,  when  the  police  is  undertaken  by  a  body  of 
uninfluenced  gentlemen,  whose  interest  and  inclination* 
induce  them  to  watch,  with  incessant  vigilance,  over  its 
tranquillity.  The  unbiassed  exertions  of  such  men  must 
always  ensure  what  the  Irish  have  ever  yearned  after,  an 
impartial  administration  of  justice;  without  which,  laws, 
even  of  the  best  description,  are  nothing  better  than  in- 
struments of  tyranny.    But  the  times  have  changed,  and 
other  men  and  other  measures  have  succeeded.  Of  these 
we  shall  presently  have  occasion  to  make  mention. 

The  principle  of  volunteering,  while  it  was  productive 
of  social  and  liberal  intercourse,  appears  to  have  diffused 
a  spirit  of  conviviality  throughout  the  country ;  and  so 
far  were  the  pleasures  of  the  table  indulged,  that  the  for- 
tunes of  many  were  thereby  impaired,  and  their  distresses 
obliged  them  to  resign  their  independence.  Representa- 
tives and  their  most  zealous  friends  and  adherents  fell  into 
a  dereliction  and  abandonment  of  public  concerns,  at  the 
same  time  that  they  neglected  their  private  interests;  and 
hence  the  county  may  date  the  loss  of  its  independent 
character.    Of  this  a  most  striking  instance  can  be  ad- 
duced.   At  an  election,  some  years  back,  one  of  the  can- 
didates, who  was  esteemed  by  his  party  a  stanch  patriot, 
came  forward  and  declared  to  the  people  on  the  hustings, 
that  "no  human  consideration  should  ever  induce  him  to 
accept  of  a  place  or  a  pension,  if  he  became  their  repre- 
sentative."   This  declaration,  however,  as  will  appear  by 
the  sequel,  he  seems  to  have  thought  no  mire  about  than  i  f 
he  had  swallowed  a  poached  eyg ;  (a  memorable  expression 
of  his  own  on  a  late  occasion.)    He  was  chosen  a  knight 
of  the  shire,  and  at  a  subsequent  meeting  he  was  actually 
absolved  from  this  solemn  and  voluntary  engagement; 
nay,  truly,  it  was  requested  he  would  accept  of  some  em* 
ployment ;  and  he  shortly  after  meekly  condescended  ta 
gratify  their  wishes,  by  accepting  of  a  pension  and  a  place, 
which  he  still  comfortably  retains,  and  is  likely  to  retain 
as  long  as  he  lives.    It  must  be  here  observed,  by-the-bye, 
that  the  object  of  suck  a  vlenanj  iudulgence  must  be 

HISTORY  OF  THE 


greatly  endeared  to  such  attached  and  accommodating 

constituents ;  the  pleasing  effect  of  convivial  talents  among 
constant  companions  who  thus  constitute  their  favourite 
the  king  of  his  company ;  a  situation  so  fascinating  to 
some  dispositions,  that  they  will  risk  ail  possible  hazards 
for  its  maintenance.  It  will  not  be  easily  impressed  on 
ingenuous  minds,  that  men  who  would  fain  uphold  in  the 
highest  degree  the  dignified  character  of  independence, 
should  so  far  forget  themselves  as  to  hold  forth  to  the 
world,  in  a  public  paper,  such  a  memorial  of  total  in- 
difference to  that  character.  Yet  in  the  case  before  us 
the  fact  is  incontrovertible. 

It  nas  been  too  common  a  foible  with  some  of  our 
gentry  to  aim  at  equal  splendour  and  expense  with  their 
superiors  in  fortune.  Such  men,  before  being  aware  of 
their  situation,  have  incautiously  expanded  largely  above 
their  incomes.  A  system  of  such  careless  dissipation  and 
extravagant  squandering  must  destroy  the  most  ample 
resources  ;  and  men,  long  in  the  habit  of  indulging  those 
propensities,  and  finding  their  means  abridged,  and  them- 
selves deeply  involved,  have  still  an  aching  reluctance  to 
give  up  any  share  of  their  ideal  consequence.  Instead, 
therefore,  of  resorting  to  any  rational  plan  of  economy, 
they  endeavour  to  get  within  the  circle  of  some  lord  or  great 
man,  supposed  to  be  possessed  of  extensive  patronage. 
They  court  his  smiles,  and  if  their  efforts  are  crowned  with 
any  degree  of  success,  they  instantly  conclude,  that  all 
their  misapplied  expenditure  must  be  amply  reimbursed 
by  this  very  often  empty  speculation.  They  count  upon 
places  and  employments  of  great  emoluments  for  them- 
selves and  their  children  ;  and  thus  they  abandon  all  idea 
of  the  certain  pursuits  of  industry,  trade  and  honourable 
profession :  they  launch  into  the  lottery  of  patronage, 
and  yield  up  their  spirit  of  independence,  and  all  their 
actions  (out  of  the  circle  of  their  families)  to  the  utter 
control  and  directing  will  of  their  adopted  patron.  It  is 
presumed,  that  any  person  acquainted  with  the  state  of 
Ireland  must  perceive  that  this  system  has  unfortunately 
been  but  too  largely  pursued,  and  too  much  acted  upon; 
and  it  is  also  pretty  notorious,  that  the  county  of  Wexford 
has  been  for  some  time  past  what  is  not  unaptly  termed 
lord-ridden.    Slaves  to  their  superiors,  but  tyrant*  to 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


11 


cheir  inferiors  ;  these  needy  adventurers  become  the  tools 
of  prevailing  power.  Justices  of  the  peace  are  selected 
from  this  class,  and  these,  by  this  degree  of  elevation, 
(certainly  to  them  the  station  is  an  exalted  one.)  think 
themselves  raised  to  a  level  of  equality  with  the  mo:  i 
respectable  gentlemen  in  the  country  But  their  i?nc 
ranee  is  so  preposterous,  and  their  behaviour  so  assuming, 
that  men  of  education,  talents,  and  fortune,  are  indiu.'t 
to  withhold  themselves  from  a  situation  they  would  othrr- 
wise  grace,  as  it  might  oblige  them  to  confer  with  lel- 
lows  with  whom  they  would  not  by  any  means  hold  com- 
munion or  keep  company.  Thus  are  the  very  men  who 
ought  to  be  the  magistrates  of  the  country,  and  who 
would  cheerfully  accept  the  office,  were  they  to  associate 
with  proper  companions  in  duty,  deterred  from  holding 
commissions  of  the  peace  ;  while  the  justice  and  police 
of  the  community  are  left  to  ignorant,  presuming,  and 
intemperate  upstarts,  devoid  of  all  qualification  and  endow, 
ment,  except  that  alone,  if  it  may  be  termed  such,  -of 
unconditional  submission  and  obedience,  to  the  control- 
ling nod  of  their  boasted  patrons.  If  they  faithfully 
adhere  to  this,  they  may  go  all  lengths  to  raise  their  con- 
sequence, and  enhance  their  estimation  with  the  multi- 
tude. These  creatures  hare  therefore  the  etfrontery  to 
push  themselves  forward  on  every  occasion;  and  after  a 
series  of  habitual  acts  of  turpitude,  whenever  an  oppor- 
tunity offers  itself,  they  become  the  scourges  and  the 
firebrands  of  the  country.  It  is  much  to  be  lamented, 
that  there  are  but  too  many  examples  of  this  melancholy 
truth,  and  that  in  too  many  instances  these  wretches  have 
been  set  on  to  commit  flagrant  acts  of  outrage,  to  answer 
the  political  purposes  of  their  patrons,  who  shrink  from 
appearing  personally  concerned  in  these  deeds  of  shame. 
On  such  occasions,  from  behind  the  curtain,  the  hireling 
crew  are  sent  out  to  riot  on  the  public  stage,  and  dreadful 
are  the  consequences  that  follow  ;  while  the  vile  under- 
strappers are  utterly  ignorant  of  the  cause,  and  never 
question  the  motive  of  their  subordination. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1795,  parties  of  con- 
tending rioters,  denominated  peep-o' -dayboys,  and  de~ 
fenders  disturbed  different  parts  or  the  province  of  Ulster, 
by  acts  of  violence  and  outrage  against  each  other.  Some 


42 


HISTORY  0?  THE 


say  their  animosities  originated  from  electioneering.  To 
these  succeeded,  in  the  summer  of  the  same  year,  a 
description  of  public  disturbers,  calling  themselves  orange- 
men,  who  now  made  their  first  appearance  in  the  county 
of  Armagh.  Their  object  appears  to  have  been,  not  to 
suffer  a  Catholic  to  remain  within  the  limits  of  their 
sphere  of  action.  They  posted  up  on  the  doors  of 
the  Catholics,  peremptory  notices  of  departure ;  specify- 
ing the  precise  time,  a  week  at  the  farthest,  pretty  nearly 
in  the  following  words: — "  To  hell,  or  to  Connaught 
with  you,  you  bloody  papists ;  and  if  you  are  not  gone  by" 
(mentioning  the  day)  "we  will  come  and  destroy  your- 
selves and  your  properties :  we  all  hate  the  papists  here." 
They  generally  were  as  good  as  their  words.  The 
Catholics  at  first  saved  themselves  by  flight ;  but  those 
who  received  notices  at  a  later  period,  were  able  to  take 
some  of  their  properties  along  with  them.  It  is  asto- 
nishing to  think  that  such  events  could  take  place,  where 
there  were  any  men  of  intelligence,  honesty,  or  public 
spirit ;  and  still  the  facts  are  indubitable  :  nay,  these 
enormities  seem  to  have  been  connived  at,  or  totally  over- 
looked, until  many  thousands  of  the  Catholics  were  thus 
driven  from  that  part  of  the  country,  and  that  it  became 
necessary  to  find  occupiers  for  the  lands  they  had  been 
obliged  to  abandon.  Even  the  gentlemen  of  landed  inte- 
rest in  the  county  did  not  exhibit,  by  any  public  testi- 
mony, a  disavowal  of  these  horrid  atrocities,  until  the 
period  of  setting  the  forsaken  territory  roused  them  from 
their  slumbers.  Then  they  discovered,  to  their  amaze- 
ment and  dismay,  that  among  the  few  bidders  who  ap- 
peared, not  one  was  found  to  offer  more  for  any  lot,  than 
about  half  what  was  paid  for  the  same  before  by  the 
Catholic  tenant.  Then,  indeed,  and  not  till  then,  did 
the  banishment  of  the  Catholics  appear  alarming.  It 
was  seriously  alarming  to  gentlemen,  thus  in  a  moment 
to  lose  half  their  incomes;  but,  until  this  fatal  discovery 
was  made,  the  number  of  wretched  poor,  proscribed,  and 
violently  driven  from  their  homes,  deprived  of  their 
cabins  and  their  all,  was  a  circumstance  unworthy  of 
these  gentlemen's  notice. 

To  counteract  this  calamity  as  much  as  possible,  a 
numerous  meeting  of  the  magistrates  of  the  county  of 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


43 


Armagh  was  held  at  the  special  instance  of  the  governor, 
Lord  Viscount  Gosford,  on  the  28th  day  of  December, 
1795.  To  this  assemblage,  on  taking  the  chair  as  presi- 
dent, his  lordship  spoke  a  pointed  address  on  the  occasion: 
which,  together  with  the  proceedings,  was  published  in 
The  Dublin  Journal  of  the  oth  of  January,  1796. 

A  circumstantial  detail  of  these  occurrences  in  the 
north  would  be  inconsistent  with  my  original  intention, 
of  confining  myself,  for  the  present,  to  the  transactions 
in  the  county  of  Wexford  ;  but  I  have  been  led  into  this, 
I  hope  excusable  digression,  in  order  to  account  to  the 
reader,  in  a  great  measure,  for  the  dreadful  impression 
made  on  the  minds  of  the  people,  at  a  future  period,  by 
the  rumours,  that  orangemen  were  sworn  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  Catholics !  Were  these  rumours  to  be 
grounded  only  on  Lord  Gosford's  statement,  (too  authen- 
tic to  admit  a  possibility  of  denial,)  and  true  only  in  the 
extent  his  lordship  has  allowed  them,  with  what  terrible 
apprehensions  must  they  fill  the  minds  of  a  simple,  op- 
pressed, and  degraded  people,  such  as  the  Irish  peasantry 
are  generally  known  to  be  for  ages  past?  But  when  it 
is  considered,  that  the  horrid  acts  themselves  have  never 
been  disavowed ;  and  the  reports  of  them  have  rung  in 
the  ears  of  every  individual  throughout  the  nation,  (per- 
haps with  aggravated  circumstances,  as  it  usually  hap- 
pens,) the  reflecting  reader  is  referred  tc  his  own  judg- 
ment, to  estimate  how  much  the  woful  tale  of  the  forlorn 
sufferers,  by  its  reverberation  from  one  end  of  the  island 
to  the  other,  must  affect  the  mind,  alarm  the  imagina- 
tion, and  inflame  the  resentments  of  an  irritated,  in- 
sulted, and  violated  community  ?  What  advantage 
might  not  be  taken  of  a  ferment  thus  excited  by  design- 
ing men — perhaps,  too,  by  the  greatest  enemies  of  the 
people  ?  For  such  frequently  assume  the  mask  of  friend- 
ship and  condolence,  and  apparently  affect  counteracting 
the  sinister  designs  of  their  minions,  in  order  to  accom- 
plish their  private  vievs,  through  a  show  of  popularity. 

Various,  as  has  been  observed,  were  the  descriptions 
of  the  disturbers  of  the  public  peace  in  Ulster.  Numbers 
went  about  in  the  night,  searching  houses,  and  taking 
away  all  the  arms  they  could  find,  without  violating  any 
other  property.    This  becoming  generally  known,  the 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


houses  were  usually  opened  upon  the  first  suramom 
This  easy  mode  of  admittance  was  afterwards  taken  ad- 
vantage of  by  common  robbers  ;  who  at  first  only  assumed 
the  character  of  disarmers,  to  come  at  their  prey  with 
less  trouble  and  more  certainty.  After  a  continued  series 
of  similar  circumstances  of  violence  and  outrage,  arising 
from  a  nation's  greatest  curse,  the  disunion  of  its  people, 
but  which  our  limits  will  not  permit  us  to  detail  at  pre- 
sent, General  Lake  issued  his  proclamation  for  disarming 
the  inhabitants  of  the  north  of  Ireland,  on  the  13th  of 
March,  1797;  and  on  the  21st  of  the  same  month,  Mr. 
Grattan,  after  a  speech  delivered  with  his  usual  force  of 
talent  and  brilliant  ability,  moved  for  an  inquiry  into 
the  causes  which  produced  this  proclamation  ;  but  his 
motion  was  unfortunately  rejected.  The  persecutions  in 
the  county  of  Armagh  were  so  flagrant,  and  the  conduct 
of  many  of  the  magistrates  so  contrary  to  law,  that  ap- 
plications were  made  to  the  Court  of  King's  Bench  for 
attachments  against  several  of  them,  but  a  bill  of  indem- 
nity prevented  a  judicial  investigation  of  their  conduct; 
and  thus  they  were  screened  from  merited  punishment. 
This  total  disregard  of  their  grievances,  and  inattention 
to  their  complaints,  added  to  the  barbarous  outrages 
afterwards  committed  by  the  military  in  the  northern 
counties,  very  much  exasperated  the  feelings  of  the  suf- 
fering party.  They  resorted  for  temporary  relief  to  pri- 
vate sorrow  and  secret  lamentation.  In  this  sad  state, 
bordering  on  despair,  every  injured  person  sympathized 
with  his  neighbour  in  affliction  ;  and  their  united  resent- 
ments, like  a  raging  flame,  suppressed,  but  not  extin- 
guished, were  the  more  likely  to  burst  forth  with  sudden 
fury  and  unexpected  violence.  It  may  not  be  imperti- 
nent to  remark,  that  in  ail  cases  of  popular  commotion, 
an  inquiry  into  the  alleged  grievances,  ought  to  go  hand 
in  hand  with  the  measures  of  rigour  and  coercion.  These 
two  principles  are  far  from  being  incompatible,  and  any 
government  acting  upon  them,  must  be  certain  of  con- 
ciliating obedience  and  affection,  respect  and  attachment. 

The  Earl  of  Moira,  with  that  dignified  humanity  which 
has  ever  graced  his  noble  character,  brought  the  distresses 
of  Ireland  before  the  British  House  of  Lords,  on  the  22d 
of  November,  1797 ;  when  he  gave  a  heart-rending  de- 


IRISU  REP.ELLIO 


scription,  in  his  native  strain  of  elevation,  of'the  savage 
cruelties  practised  by  the  military  against  the  people ; 
and  offered  at  ttie  moment,  to  produce  at  the  bar  incon- 
trovertible proof  of  his  assertions.  He  concluded  his 
able  statement  by  moving  an  address  to  the  sovereign, 
the  principal  purport  of  which  was,  "humbly  hoping 
that  his  majesty  might  be  graciously  pleased  to  take  into 
his  paternal  consideration  the  disturbed  state  of  Ireland ; 
and  to  adopt  such  lenient  measures,  as  might  appear  to 
his  royal  wisdom  and  benignity,  best  calculated  to  re- 
store tranquillity  and  excite  affection."  But,  sad  to  tell, 
his  lordship  was  not  more  fortunate  in  the  British  House 
of  Lords,  than  was  Mr.  Grattan  the  preceding  March  in 
the  Irish  House  of  Commons.  Both  motions  had  the 
same  unlucky  fate  of  rejection.  On  the  following  day, 
(the  23d  of  November,)  Mr.  Fox  made  a  similar  bene- 
volent and  patriotic  effort  (and  who  is  unacquainted 
with  his  powers?)  in  the  British  House  of  Commons, 
but  with  the  like  success.  He  concluded  a  lucid  and 
animated  speech  with  the  following  pointed  and  emphatic 
quotation  from  Cicero,  which  I  cannot  resist  inserting: 
Carum  eisse  civibus  bene  de  republicd  mereri,  laudari, 
coli,  diligi,  gloriosum  est ;  metui  vero  et  in  odio  esse,  in. 
vidiosum,  detestabile,  imbecillum,  caducum."  To  be  dear 
to  one's  countrymen,  to  deserve  well  of  the  common 
weal,  to  be  praised,  to  be  respected,  to  be  beloved,  is 
glorious  ;  but  to  be  feared  and  encompassed  with  hatred 
is  invidious,  is  detestable,  is  tottering,  is  ruinous. 

The  appointment  of  General  Sir  Balph  Abercromby, 
on  the  12th  of  December,  1797,  to  the  chief  command 
of  the  forces  in  Ireland,  gave  general  satisfaction,  and 
afforded  a  ray  of  hope  to  drooping  despondency.  The 
subsequent  dfsplay  of  his  eminent  virtues  evinced  the 
justice  of  favourable  expectation.  Having  been  quar- 
tered in  Ireland  through  most  of  his  gradations  of  well- 
merited  promotion,  he  possessed  a  perfect  local  know- 
ledge of  the  country  ;  and  he  now  resolved  in  person  to 
visit  every  district,  and  thus  he  made  a  tour  of  observa- 
tion through  the  whole  island.  After  a  strict  review  of 
every  object  worthy  of  his  attention,  he  published  on  his 
return  to  Dublin  general  orders  to  the  several  military 
commanders,  wherein  after  having  reprobated  the  irre- 


46 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


gularities  of  the  soldiery,  he  directed  the  necessary  re- 
straint for  their  disorderly  conduct.  These  orders  were 
issued  from  the  adjutant- general's  office,  in  Dublin,  oa 
the  26th  of  February,  1797. 

The  Earl  of  Moira.  animated  by  the  same  generous 
motives  that  always  influenced  his  conduct,  made  his  last 
effort  to  avert  the  impending  storm.  With  this  benevo- 
lent intention,  on  the  19th  of  February,  1798,  he  moved 
in  the  Irish  House  of  Lords,  "  That  an  humble  address 
be  presented  to  his  excellency  the  lord  lieutenant,  repre- 
senting, that  as  parliament  hath  confided  to  his  excel- 
lency extraordinary  powers  for  supporting  the  laws  and 
defeating  any  traitorous  combinations  which  may  exist  in 
this  kingdom,  this  house  feels  it,  at  the  same  time,  its 
duty,  as  those  powers  have  not  produced  the  desired 
effect,  to  recommend  the  adoption  of  such  conciliatory 
measures  as  may  allay  the  apprehensions  and  extinguish 
the  discontents  unhappily  prevalent  in  this  country." 
This  motion  was  introduced  after  an  affecting  speech  of 
uncommon  energy,  but  it  was  negatived  without  further 
investigation — a  circumstance  that  furnishes  strong 
ground  for  the  opinion  of  many  intelligent  men,  that  the 
door  was  shut,  at  that  time,  against  all  inquiry,  for  pur- 
poses not  then  known,  or  even  imagined  by  the  public ; 
but  which,  however,  were  foretold,  as  if  from  a  spirit  of 
inspiration,  even  in  the  minutest  circumstances,  by  those 
elevated  geniuses  whose  comprehensive  views  in  regard 
to  the  concerns  of  their  country  were  unlimited.  The 
great  measure  was  still  in  reserve,  and  not  to  be  brought 
forward  until  the  country  should  be  completely  paralysed. 
This  unhappy  crisis,  it  is  thought,  was  long  in  agitation 
and  deeply  premeditated.  I  crave  the  reader's  permis  - 
sion, while  I  endeavour  to  sketch  a  brief  outline  of  the 
manner  in  which  it  is  supposed  to  have  been  finally 
effected. 

J  hiring  the  American  war,  at  one  time,  nearly  all  the 
troops  on  the  Irish  establishment  were  drawn  off  to  sup- 
port that  unfortunate  contest.  The  combined  fleets  of 
France  and  Spain  were  riding  triumphant  in  the  channel, 
aad  our  shores  were  every  moment  threatened  with  a 
formidable  invasion.  In  this  perilous  situation  Ireland 
was  advised  by  the  British  ministry  to  defend  herself  as 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


47 


trell  as  she  could,  as  she  was  now  left  no  other  resource. 
The  latent  spirit  of  the  nation  was  roused  at  the  approach 
of  danger.  Upwards  of  one  hundred  thousand  heroes 
instantly  appeared,  self-clothed,  self-armed,  perfectly 
equipped  and  appointed,  ready  to  oppose  with  dauntless 
courage  the  menacing  foe  that  would  rashly  venture  to 
insult  our  coast.  These  were  the  ever  memorable  and 
ever  glorious  Volunteers  of  Ireland.  Our  enemies  were 
all  at  once  completely  scared,  they  shrunk  into  their 
ports ;  and  our  shores,  then  too  commanding  for  an  at- 
tempt to  land,  were  left  unmolested.  Our  people  were 
united  in  harmonious  resolution  ;  every  breast  glowed 
with  patriotic  ardour  ;  and  the  salvation  of  Ireland,  other- 
wise left  to  inevitable  destruction,  was  the  consequence. 
The  hour  of  security  and  social  intercourse  produced  re- 
flection. The  saviours  of  their  country  quickly  disco- 
Tered  that  they  existed  in  a  state  of  thraldom  to  the 
British  parliament.  They  demanded  a  redress  of  griev- 
ances ;  it  could  not  be  refused ;  and  the  national  legisla- 
ture was  consequently  declared  independent.  This  great 
event  took  place  in  1782,  and  a  rapid  increase  of  national 
prosperity  succeeded  ;  our  commerce  being  less  shackled, 
became  more  extensive,  and  the  capital  of  the  island  im- 
proved in  splendour  and  magnificence.  But  it  was  with 
the  utmost  reluctance,  and  under  circumstances  of  impe- 
rious necessity,  that  these  concessions  seemed  to  be  made 
by  the  British  cabinet,  while  the  most  malignant  envy 
rankled  in  the  bosoms  of  the  enemies  of  Ireland.  But 
there  was  no  alternative.  A  diffusion  of  liberal  senti- 
ment and  an  unity  of  interests  had  combined  men  of  all 
ranks  and  persuasions  in  the  common  cause.  The  un- 
hallowed monster  of  religious  bigotry  could  no  longer  be 
introduced  to  foment  prejudice  and  sow  baleful  division; 
all  was  concord  and  unanimity.  But  the  object  of 
creating  disunion  and  annulling  the  benefits  obtained  was 
never  lost  sight  of;  and  the  happy  state  of  Ireland  con- 
tinued uninterrupted  only  until  the  dissolution  of  the 
volunteer  associations,  (and  this  was  contrived  as  spee- 
dily as  possible,)  and  till  other  schemes  were  put  in  prac- 
tice to  dissipate  the  union  of  sentiment  which  so  happily 
prevailed.  Much  time  was  not  lost,  therefore,  to  put 
every  engine  at  work  for  this  detested  purpose-    In  1786 


HISTORI  OF  THE 


a  set  of  commercial  regulations,  denominated  proposl* 
tions,  was  drawn  up  in  the  Irish  House  of  Commons,  and 
transmitted  for  the  consideration  of  the  British  parlia- 
ment. From  thence  they  were  returned  so  altered,  that 
the  Irish  minister  of  the  day  found  it  expedient  not  to 
press  them  forward.  It  was  asserted  that  the  propositions 
so  garbled,  went  the  full  length  of  annihilating  by  impli- 
cation the  independence  so  lately  acquired;  and  this 
proceeding  excited  no  small  degree  of  irritation.  The 
same  year,  among  other  means  of  disturbing  the  harmony 
of  the  people,  the  Right  Rev.  Doctor  Woodward,  late 
bishop  of  Cloyne,  taking  advantage  of  some  disturbances, 
excited  by  the  exactions  of  tithe  farmers  in  Munster, 
fulminated  a  pamphlet,  pronouncing  the  church  and  state 
in  danger.  The  trump  of  discord  thus  deliberately  blown, 
was  resounded  by  an  intemperate  writer,  under  the  as- 
sumed name  of  44  Theophilus."  This  scurrilous  publi- 
cation (at  first  acknowledged,  but  afterwards  denied  by 
its  reputed  author, )  was  always  with  good  reason  attri- 
buted to  a  civilian  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  Esta- 
blished Church,  and  now  at  the  head  of  its  judicial 
concerns.  This  author's  publication  is  notorious  for 
virulent  abuse,  for  gross  and  foul  invectives  against  Ca- 
tholics in  public — though  he  had  a  Catholic  of  the  gentler 
sex  the  wedded  partner  of  his  existence,  and  though  in 
private  life  endeavouring  to  maintain  habits  of  intimacy 
with  many  of  the  Catholic  clergy  ;  but  what  reliance  is 
to  be  placed  on  the  declamations  of  a  man  whose  practice 
is  so  contrary  to  his  professions ;  but  he  may  well  play 
the  ambidexter,  when  his  pleadings  have  heaped  on  him 
a  multiplicity  of  profitable  situations,  (which  he  does 
not  admit  to  be  places  or  employments,)  and  in  his  con- 
vivial moments  he  is  foully  belied  if  he  does  not  mightily 
enjoy  the  joke.  These,  and  such  like  productions,  dic- 
tated by  the  spirit  of  discord,  were  refuted  by  several 
able  pens  of  the  day.  but  particularly  convicted  by  the 
irresistible  force  of  the  benevolent  O'Leary's  dignified 
ridicule.  This  divine,  professing  the  true  spirit  of  the 
Gospel,  excited  by  the  purest  motives  of  patriotism  and 
Christian  charity,  steps  forward,  anr\  by  his  exhortations 
and  example,  contributed  more  effectually  to  quiet  the 
cunds  of  the  people  and  appease  the  tempest,  by  bringing 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


49 


thera  back  to  a  sen?e  of  their  religion,  and  without  the 
loss  of  a  life,  effected  more  than  an  host  prompted  by 
prejudiced  coercion,  or  a  formidable  army.  The  happy 
effects  of  the  exertions  of  this  extraordinary  man,  wnose 
talents  were-  so  eminently  useful  at  this  critical  period, 
attracted  the  not:ce  of  majesty,  and  with  becoming  gra- 
titude, unsolicited  on  his  part,  received  a  small  annuity 
as  a  token  of  royal  favour  :  his  talents  were  considered 
too  conspicuous  to  lie  dormant,  and  very  advantageous 
offers  were  made  to  him  to  write  for  a  periodical  publi- 
cation that  militated  against  his  principles;  he  had  no 
other  property,  yet  he  rejects  it  with  scorn,  although  he 
was  certain  thereby  to  incur  the  displeasure  of  the  ruling 
powers  in  Ireland,  that  would  do  all  in  their  power  to 
injure  him,  which  he  preferred  to  the  prostitution  of  his 
heavenly  talents,  and  he  retires  from  his  native  country 
and  repairs  to  England,  where  the  enviable  blessings  of 
the  constitution  are  experienced  infinitely  more  than  in 
Ireland.  Yet  all  these  exertions  did  not  allay  the  public 
ferment,  and  the  hateful  and  melancholy  effects  of  reli- 
gious dissension  were  but  too  general;  and  hence  may 
be  deduced  the  most  lamentable  misfortunes  to  Ireland — 
the  revival  of  religious  enmity. 

No  means  were  omitted  thenceforward  by  the  principal 
actors  on  the  occasion,  of  cherishing  the  animosities  thus 
excited ;  confident  that  this  procedure  alone  would  best 
bear  them  to  their  end.  This  may  be  fairly  concluded 
from  what  dropped  in  the  debate  on  the  famous  proposi- 
tions. A  leading  person,  then  high  in  confidence  and 
official  situation,  and  who,  before  the  final  object  was 
attained,  arrived  at  the  chief  judicial  capacity  of  the 
land,  pronounced  in  the  moment  of  exasperated  disap- 
pointment, that  "  the  Irish  were  a  besotted  people,  easily 
roused,  and  easily  appeased;"  and,  in  terms  unfit  for 
lecency  to  utter,  he  is  said  to  have  threatened  to  tame 
their  refractory  spirits.  In  truth,  he  then  delivered  the 
sentiments  of  his  party,  as  well  as  his  own  determination, 
to  which  he  strictly  adhered  ever  after  This  man  of 
narrow  politics  omitted  no  occasion  of  accomplishing  the 
humiliation  of  his  native  country.  Opposing  with  licen- 
tious petulance  all  rational  schemes  of  reform ;  reprobating 
with  plebeian  ribaldry  the  justice  of  Catholic  claims ;  and 


50 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


provoking  public  anger  by  insulting  public  feeling,  he  saw 
with  gloomy  satisfaction,  before  his  premature  dissolution, 
his  ruthless  system  carried  into  woful  effect.  The  tram- 
pled populace  were  goaded  to  resistance;  their  smo- 
thered resentments  burst  into  a  flame  that  was  not  very 
easily  extinguished  ;  the  nation  was  distracted  ;  and  the 
long-premeditated  measure  of  incorporating  union  suc- 
ceeded, after  a  spirited  but  ineffectual  resistance ;  and 
thus  ended  the  political  drama  of  Ireland.  But  to 
return. 

Sir  Ralph  Abercromby,  after  the  publication  of  his 
general  orders,  and  the  knowledge  lie  had  acquired  in  his 
general  view  of  the  country,  endeavoured  in  vain  to  im- 
press the  minds  of  those  in  power  with  his  own  well-founded 
opinion,  that  coercive  measures,  in  the  extent  determined 
on,  were  by  no  means  necessary  in  Ireland.  Unwilling, 
therefore,  to  tarnish  his  military  fame,  or  risk  the  loss  of 
humane  and  manly  character  by  leading  troops  to  scenes 
of  cold-blood  slaughter  and  civil  desolation  ;  sooner  than 
sanction  by  his  presence  proceedings  so  abhorrent  from 
his  nature,  he  resigned  the  chief  command  of  the  army  in 
Ireland,  on  the  29th  of  April,  1798.  His  departure  has, 
indeed,  been  a  sore  misfortune  to  this  unhappy  nation  ; 
and  had  any  casualty  detained  him  here  but  one  month 
longer,  it  would  have  been  providential;  for  when  the  in- 
surrection had  actually  broken  out,  he  could  not  so  well 
have  resigned  the  command,  and  his  dignified  authority 
would  have  restrained  the  soldiery  from  the  horrid  ex- 
cesses they  afterwards  committed.  He  was  too  good  and 
too  great  a  blessing  for  this  ill-fated  land  to  possess  at 
that  time;  he  did  all  in  his  power  to  prevent  the  woful 
calamities  that  followed  ;  his  splendid  exploits  in  Egypt 
have  rendered  his  fame  immortal :  and  his  death,  though 
glorious,  has  left  an  aching  pang  in  the  bosom  of  every 
true  lover  of  this  distracted  country.  May  the  olive 
branch  which  he  waved  in  Ireland  be  never  forgotten 
among  his  unfading  laurels  ! 

A  strong  confirmation,  if  further  proof  were  at  all  ne- 
cessary, of  the  great  discrimination  of  General  Aber- 
cromby 's  comprehensive  mind,  is  his  marked  selection  of 
a  dignified  character  with  whom  to  share  his  confidence, 
as  second  in  command  when  going  on  the  expedition  to 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


5\ 


Egypt.  His  choice  could  not  have  fallen  more  judiciously 
than  on  Lord  Hutchinson,  whose  brilliant  achievements 
and  splendid  triumphs  have  since  so  largely  added  to  Irish 
fame,  and  adorned  himself  with  merited  honours.  This  no- 
bleman appears  to  have  rivalled  his  great  friend  as  well  in 
humanity  as  glory.  Their  opinions  respecting  Ireland 
strictly  coincided.  Witness  his  lordship's  well-known 
sentiment  of  i4I  abominatk  the  torture.-'  delivered 
in  the  winter  of  1798.  in  the  Irish  parliament  in  the 
debate  on  the  bill  of  indemnity,  for  screening  the  violent 
proceedings  of  the  sheriff  of  the  county  of  Tipperary ; 
and  it  is  happy  such  sentiments  did  not  deprive  him  of  com- 
mand. The  opposition  of  the  entire  Hutchinson  family 
to  oppressive  measures  was  conspicuous  on  this  occasion ; 
and  their  exertions  were  indefatigable  for  the  maintenance 
of  peace  and  order  throughout  the  whole  of  the  arduous 
period  of  disturbance.  They  all  breathed  the  same  sen- 
timent of  benevolence  and  humanity.  The  Earl  of 
Donoughmore  exerted  all  his  power  and  influence  to  throw 
open  the  gates  of  mercy  to  the  wretched  people ;  and  his 
brother  the  Hon.  Francis  Hely  Hutchinson,  who  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Judkin  Fitzgerald  as  sheriff  of  the  county  of 
Tipperary,  was  eminent  in  support  of  abhorrence  of  the 
torture.  In  short,  the  affable  demeanour,  the  kind  and 
conciliating  manners  of  this  entire  family,  fascinated  the 
minds  of  the  people,  and  thus  prevented  shocking  scenes 
of  dreadful  devascation,  wherever  they  possessed  influence 
or  had  command,  particularly  in  the  counties  of  Tippe- 
rary, Cork,  and  Galway,  much  more  effectualiy  than  any 
measures  of  violence  or  coercion  could  ever  accomplish. 
I  hope,  at  a  future  period,  to  be  enabled  to  do  more  justice 
to  the  great  merits  of  this  family,  by  faithfully  recording 
their  generous  actions  in  Munster,  in  1798,  a  task  that 
must  be  grateful  to  every  lover  of  humanity,  and  of  li  e- 
land,  and  those  of  other  celebrated  characters,  that  the 
limits  of  my  present  publication  permit  me  only  to 
glance  at. 

Immediately  on  the  departure  of  General  Abercromby, 
the  military  were  sent  out  at  free  quarters  in  the  county 
of  Kildare  and  parts  of  the  counties  of  Carlow  and  Wick- 
low.  What  hardships,  what  calamity,  what  misery  must 
not  the  wretched  people  suffer,  on  whom  were  iet  loose 


52 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


such,  a  body  as  the  soldiery  then  in  Ireland  are  described 
to  be  in  the  general  orders  before  alluded  to  of  the  26th 
of  April,  1798  !  They  became  masters  of  every  house  in 
the  country ;  the  real  owners  were  obliged  to  procure 
them  every  necessary  they  thought  proper  to  demand ;  and, 
as  their  will  was  then  the  only  law — -and  a  very  imperious 
and  tyrannical  law  it  was — the  people  dare  not,  except  at 
the  risk  of  their  lives,  complain  of  any  outrage  or  bru- 
tality of  which  their  savage  disposition  prompted  them 
to  be  guilty.  The  inevitable  consequence  was,  that  such 
horrid  acts  were  perpetrated,  such  shocking  scenes  were 
exhibited,  as  must  rouse  the  indignation  and  provoke 
the  abhorrence  of  all  not  dead  to  humane  feeling,  or 
not  barbarised  by  unnatural  hatred  of  their  fellow-crea- 
tures. 

At  this  period  of  confusion,  the  first  public  intimation 
of  disturbance  in  the  county  of  Wexford,  was  from  a 
meeting  of  magistrates  held  at  Gorey,  on  the  28th  of 
November,  1797.  There  the  proclaiming  of  sixteen 
parishes  out  of  one  hundred  and  forty-two,  of  which 
the  county  consists,  was  voted  by  a  majority,  of  which 
my  information  does  not  afford  me  the  number ;  but  the 
measure  was  strongly  opposed  by  eight  of  the  magis- 
trates present,  including  Lord  Mountnorris,  who  must 
be  naturally  supposed  to  feel  substantial  reasons  for  his 
opposition  to  have  the  part  of  the  county  proclaimed 
wherein  his  property  principally  lay  ;  and  it  is  to  be  fairly 
presumed,  (whatever  ground  may  be  had  by  some  re- 
flecting people  for  thinking  otherwise,)  that  his  lordship 
Mras  not  influenced  on  this  occasion  at  least,  by  motives 
of  opposition  to  Lord  Ely,  his  successful  rival  in  the 
patronage  of  the  county.  Shortly  after  this  meeting  at 
Gorey,  I  spent  some  days  at  Camolin-park,  the  seat  of 
Lord  Mountnorris,  while  he  was  soliciting  the  people 
from  parish  to  parish  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance.  His 
iordship  requested  I  would  use  what  influence  I  might 
possess  with  the  priests  in  my  neighbourhood,  induce 
them  and  their  flocks  to  join  in  this  general  test  of  loy- 
alty, in  order,  as  he  said,  to  put  the  Catholic  interest 
in  the  county  of  Wexford  on  the  most  respectable  foot* 
ing;  suggesting  at  the  same  time,  that  from  his  "greet, 
consequence  and  influence,  bis  representation  of  facts 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


53 


must  counteract  and  outweigh  the  misrepresentations  oj 
others**  He  also  showed  me  the  oaths  he  usuaily  ad- 
ministered on  these  occasions,  and  which  he  stated  him- 
self to  have  improved  from  time  to  time  by  several 
alterations  ;  he  produced  one  in  particular,  which  he 
conceived  to  be  wrought  up  to  the  highest  perfection  of 
loyalty.  Although  I  agree!  with  his  lordship  so  far  as 
really  to  think  the  county  was  then  in  a  state  of  perfect 
peace  and  tranquillity,  (and  therefore  thought  this  over- 
weening parade  unnecessary,)  yet  I  never  believed  him, 
notwithstanding  ail  his  lordship's  strong  professions  to 
that  elfect,  a  sincere  friend  to  Catholics :  I  was  rather 
strongly  of  opinion,  that  he  affected  a  show  of  concern 
for  their  interests  at  this  critical  period  in  mere  opposi- 
tion to  the  noble  lord  his  competitor  for  influence. 

I  therefore  took  the  most  civil  means  in  my  power  of 
declining  the  interference  to  which  his  lordship  would 
have  directed  my  exertions.  Lord  Mountnorris,  how- 
ever, was  not  singular  in  courting  Catholic  popularity  at 
that  time,  for  all  the  newspapers  of  the  day  teemed  with 
addresses  from  the  Catholics  throughout  the  island,  pub- 
lished, not  at  the  desire  or  at  the  expense  of  the  sub- 
scribers, but  by  the  political  raanoeuverers  who  took  the 
trouble  of  procuring  them,  to  answer  their  private  pur- 
poses, by  playing  them  off  against  the  schemes  of  other 
opponents. 

Previous  to  the  spring  assizes  of  1798,  several  pri- 
soners were  transmitted  from  Wexford  to  abide  their 
trials  at  Wicklow,  on  the  prosecution  of  an  informer, 
whose  real  name  was  Morgan,  and  who  had  been  trans- 
ported some  years  before  for  robbery,  but  had  returned 
to  the  country  under  the  assumed  name  of  Cooper. 
This  miscreant  was  encouraged  by  some  magistrates  of 
the  county  of  Wicklow,  to  swear  informations  against 
united  Irishmen  ;  and  this  he  did  most  copiously.  On 
producing  him,  however,  at  Wicklow,  his  character  ap- 
peared so  infamous,  that  the  gentlemen  of  the  bar  were 
unreserved  in  declaring  that  the  baseness  of  such  a  oefiu 
rious  villain  reflected  not  a  little  on  those  magistrates 
that  encouraged  him  to  come  forward.  All  the  prisoners 
were  consequently  acquitted,  and  it  was  therefore  not 
deemed  expedient  to  bring  him  on  to  prosecute  at  Wex 


54 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


ford,  where  there  were  also  some  prisoners  confined  on 
Ms  information. 

At  this  assizes  also,  one  man  of  the  name  of  Collins, 
otherwise  M'Quillen,  was  brought  to  trial  for  spread- 
ing false  news  and  alarming  the  country ;  it  was  clearly 
proved,  that  this  man  circulated  a  report  of  the  arrival 
of  the  French  off  Bantry,  and  that  the  yeomen  or  orange- 
men  (indifferently  supposed  by  the  people  to  be  the  same) 
were  to  march  to  resist  the  invasion  ;  and  that  it  was 
designed  by  them  previously  to  commit  a  massacre  upon 
the  Catholics  of  the  country.  Such  implicit  belief  did 
the  report  gain,  that  every  person  from  Bray  to  Arklow, 
between  four  and  five  and  twenty  miles  extent,  abandoned 
their  habitations  and  slept  in  the  open  fields  ;  and  some 
women  were  even  delivered  in  that  exposed  condition. 
It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  these  people  must  have  from 
some  previous  cause  been  led  to  form  So  bad  an  opinion 
of  their  neighbours,  when  they  gave  credit  with  so  much 
facility  to  these  reports. 

Several  had  been  confined  in  Wexford  as  united  Irish- 
men, to  be  prosecuted  by  an  informer,  of  a  description 
quite  different  from  that  of  the  Wicklow  ruffian  The 
name  of  this  second  informer  was  Joseph  Murphy,  a 
creature  of  such  idiot  aspect,  that  it  was  impossible,  even 
at  first  view,  not  to  conclude  him  destitute  of  common 
intellect,  so  that  it  appeared  strange  that  any  magistrate 
of  the  least  discrimination  could  venture  to  produce  him: 
yet,  this  was  the  man  chosen  craftily  to  insinuate  himself 
to  be  sworn  an  united  Irishman,  and  then  to  develop 
this  whole  scheme  of  the  combination  to  a  magistrate  of 
the  county,  who  had  employed  him  for  that  purpose,  as 
he  afterwards  asserted  in  the  most  solemn  manner ;  and 
his  testimony  on  the  trial,  when  he  was  produced  as 
an  informer,  sufficiently  warrants  this  confession.  Only 
one  trial  was  ventured  on  by  the  crown-solicitor  at  the 
prosecution  of  this  man,  and  on  hearing  his  evidence 
the  prisoner  was  instantly  acquitted,  and  the  remainder 
of  those  against  whom  he  had  given  information  were 
turned  out  of  the  dock,  without  any  trial  whatever.  I 
should  not  dwell  upon  these  apparently  trivial  circum- 
stances, but  that  the  public  can  judge  of  the  truth  only 
by  a  faithful  relation  of  facts ;  and  these  facts  also  tend 


IKISH  REBELLION. 


55 


to  prove  that  the  system  of  the  united  Irishmen  had 
not  diffused  itself  through  the  county  of  Wexford  to  the 
extent  so  confidently  affirmed  by  an  author,  whose  ve- 
racity in  almost  every  other  instance  appears  equally 
nuestionable.  The  truth  is,  that  no  authentic  proof 
existed  at  the  time  to  support  these  arrogant  assertions ; 
and  subsequent  information  confirms  how  little  the  county 
of  Wexford  was  concerned  in  that  conspiracy,  as  no  return 
appears  of  its  being*  organised,  in  the  discoveries  of  the 
secret  committees  of  the  Houses  of  Lords  and  Commons. 
It  would  be  as  contrary  to  truth,  however,  to  say  there 
were  no  united  Irishmen  in  the  county  of  Wexford  ;  but 
by  every  statement  worthy  of  credit,  that  has  ever 
appeared,  their  numbers  were  comparatively  fewer  in  this 
than  in  any  other  county  in  Ireland;  and  such  as  were  of 
that  description  here  seem  to  have  been  privately  sworn 
in  the  detached  unconnected  manner  of  the  first  progress 
of  that  business,  before  it  assumed  the  form  of  regular 
organization.  According  to  this  system,  now  so  univer- 
sally known,  the  united  Irishmen  of  the  county  of  Wex- 
ford, considering  the  means  whereby  those  were  urged 
into  the  conspiracy,  do  not  appear  to  come  strictly  under 
that  denomination ;  for  their  first  inducement  to  combine 
was,  to  render  their  party  strong  enough  to  resist  the 
orangemen,  whom  they  actually  believed  to  be  associated 
and  sworn  for  the  extermination  of  the  Catholics,  and  "to 
wade  ankle  deep  in  their  blood /"  What  dreadful  notions 
of  terror  and  alarm  must  not  fill  the  minds  of  people  be- 
lieving themselves  thus  devoted  to  inevitable  destruction  ? 
so  strongly,  indeed,  was  it  endeavoured  to  impress  the 
horrid  belief,  that  it  was  frequently  reported  through  the 
country,  that  the  orangemen  were  to  rise  in  the  night- 
time to  murder  all  the  Catholics.  Reports  of  an  opposite 
kind  also  went  abroad,  as  it  appear?,  by  a  public  adver- 
tisement, that  a  reward  of  one  hundred  guineas  was 
offered  by  the  Roman  Catholic  inhabitants  of  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Gorey,  for  the  discovery  of  some  wicked 
and  designing  persons  who  spread  a  malevolent  and  detes- 
table rumour,  that  all  the  churches  were  to  be  attacked 
on  Sunday  the  29th  of  April,  and  that  a  general  massacre 
of  the  Protestants  was  to  follow.  The  advertisement 
waa  signed  by  the  priests  and  principal  inhabitants  of  tlie 


HISTORY    OF  THE 


place,  with  Sir  Thomas  Esmonde,  Baronet,  at  their  head 
and  thus  did  the  Catholics  do  all  in  their  power  to  satisfy 
the  minds  of  their  Protestant  brethren.  These  reports 
certainly  occasioned  a  great  deal  of  mischief  among  the 
ignorant  and  uninformed  of  all  descriptions,  whose  minds 
were  wrought  up  to  such  fury  and  animosity,  that  the 
opposite  parties  united  for  mutual  defence  and  hostility 
to  their  opponents. 

On  the  30th  of  March,  1798,  all  Ireland  was  put 
under  martial  law,  and  officially  declared  to  be  in  a  state 
of  rebellion  by  a  proclamation  from  the  lord  lieutenant 
and  privy  council  of  the  realm.  In  this  proclamation 
the  military  were  directed  to  use  the  most  summary 
method  of  repressing  disturbances. 

The  orange  system  made,  no  public  appearance  in  the 
county  of  Wexford,  until  the  beginning  of  April,  on 
the  arrival  there  of  the  North  Cork  militia,  commanded 
by  Lord  Kingsborough.  In  this  regiment  there  were  a 
great  number  of  orangemen,  who  were  zealous  in  making 
proselytes,  and  displaying  their  devices ;  having  medals 
and  orange  ribbons  triumphantly  pendent  from  their 
bosoms.  It  is  believed,  that  previous  to  this  period  there 
were  but  few  actual  orangemen  in^the  county  ;  but  soon 
after,  those  whose  principles  inclined  that  way,  finding 
themselves  supported  by  the  military,  joined  the  asso- 
ciation, and  publiely  avowed  themselves,  by  assuming  the 
devices  of  the  fraternitj\ 

It  is  said,  that  the  North  Cork  regiment  were  also  the 
inventors — but  they  certainly  were  the  introducers  of 
pitch-cap  torture  into  the  county  of  Wexford.  Any 
person  having  their  hair  cut  short,  (and  therefore  called 
a  croppy,  by  which  appellation  the  soldiery  designated  an 
united  Irishman,)  on  being  pointed  out  by  some  loyal 
neighbour,  was  immediately  seized  and  brought  into  a 
guard-house,  where  caps  either  of  coarse  linen,  or  strong 
brown  paper,  besmeared  inside  with  pitch,  were  always 
kept  ready  for  service.  The  unfortunate  victim  had  one 
of  these  well  heated,  compressed  on  his  head,  and  when 
judged  of  a  proper  degree  of  coolness,  so  that  it  could 
not  be  easily  pulled  off,  the  sufferer  was  turned  out  amidst 
the  horrid  acclamations  of  the  merciless  torturers ;  and 
to  the  view  of  vast  numbers  of  people,  who  generally 


IRISH  REBELLION.  57 

crowded  about  the  guard-house  door,  attracted  by  the 
afflicted  cries  of  the  tormented.   Many  of  those  persecuted 
in  this  manner  experienced  additional  anguish  from  the 
melted  pitch  trickling  into  their  eyes.    This  afforded  a 
rare  addition  of  enjoyment  to  these  keen  sportsmen,  who 
reiterated  their  horrid  yells  of  exultation  on  the  repetition 
of  the  several  accidents  to  which  their  game  was  liable 
upon  being  turned  out;  for  in  the  confusion  and  hurry  of 
escaping  from  the  ferocious  hands  of  these  more  than  sa- 
vage barbarians,  the  blinded  victims  frequently  fell,  or  inad- 
vertently dashed  their  heads  against  the  walls  in  their  way. 
The  pain  of  disengaging  this  pitched  cap  from  the  head 
must  be  next  to  intolerable.    The  hair  was  often  torn  out 
by  the  roots,  and  not  unfrequently  parts  of  the  skin  were 
so  scalded  or  blistered  as  to  adhere  and  come  off  along  with 
it.   The  terror  and  dismay  that  these  outrages  occasioned 
are  inconceivable.  »A  serjeant  of  the  North  Cork,  nick- 
named Torn  the  Devil,  was  most  ingenious  in  devising 
new  modes  of  torture.    Moistened  gunpowder  was  fre- 
quently rubbed  into  the  hair  cut  close  and  then  set  on 
fire  ,  some,  while  shearing  for  this  purpose,  had  the  tips 
of  their  ears  snipt  off ;  sometimes  an  entire  ear,  and  often 
both  ears  were  completely  cut  off ;  and  many  lost  part  of 
their  noses  during  the  like  preparation.    But,  strange  to 
tell,  these  atrocities  were  publicly  practised  without  the 
least  reserve  in  open  day,  and  no  magistrate  or  officer 
ever  interfered,  but  shamefully  connived  at  this  extra- 
ordinary mode  of  quieting  the  people!    Some  ot  the 
miserable  sufferers  on  these  shocking  occasions,  or  some 
of  their  relations  or  friends,  actuated  by  a  principle  of 
retaliation,  if  not  of  revenge,  cut  short  the  hair  of  several 
persons  whom  they  either  considered  as  enemies  or  sus- 
pected of  having  pointed  them  out  as  objects  for  suo.h 
desperate  treatment.    This  was  done  with  a  view  th.  t 
those  active  citizens  should  fall  in  for  a  little  experieiu  e 
of  the  like  discipline,  or  to  make  the  fashion  of  short 
hair  so  general  that  it  might  no  longer  be  a  mark  of 
party  distinction.     Females  were  also  exposed  to  the 
grossest  insults  from  these  military  ruffians.  Many 

Wfinipn  hjirl  thpir  ■npttifnjits    lmnd lr  PT^'hipf*    pitw  tHi 

n                     JltlLl     LliCII      UCHiLUalf)     llcllll.lXS.Cl  dllCl-~,     CtllJo,  11U. 

bons,  and  all  parts  of  tneir  dress  that  exhibited  a  shad  4 
of  green  (considered  the  national  colour  of  Ireland)  torn 

BO*  • 


58 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


off,  and  their  ears  assailed  by  the  most  Tile  and  indecent 
ribaldry.  This  was  a  circumstance  so  unforeseen,  and 
of  course  so  little  provided  against,  that  many  women  of 
enthusiastic  loyalty  suffered  outrage  in  this  maimer. 
Some  of  these  ladies  would  not  on  any  account  have  worn 
any  thing  which  they  could  even  imagine  partook  in  any 
degree  of  croppyism.  They  were,  however,  unwarily 
involved,  until  undeceived  by  these  gentle  hints  from 
these  kind  guardians  of  allegiance. 

Great  as  the  apprehensions  from  orangemen  had  been 
before  among  the  people,  they  were  now  multiplied  ten- 
fold, and  aggravated  terror  led  them  in  numbers  to  bo 
sworn  united  Irishmen,  in  order  to  counteract  the  sup- 
posed plan  of  their  rumoured  exterminators.  The  fears 
of  the  people  became  so  great  at  length,  that  they  forsook 
their  houses  in  the  night  and  slept  (if  under  such  cir- 
cumstances they  could  sleep)  in  the  ditches.  These  facts 
were  notorious  at  the  time,  and  had  the  magistrates  and 
gentlemen  of  the  country  been  actuated  by  the  feelings 
that  humanity  naturally  excites  on  such  occasions,  they 
might  with  very  little  trouble  have  convinced  the  deluded 
populace  of  the  fallacy  of  such  reports,  and  they  should 
have  promised  them  public  protection.  In  general,  how- 
ever, the  fact  was  otherwise.  The  melancholy  situation 
of  the  people  was  regarded  with  the  utmost  indifference: 
few  individuals  felt  any  concern  or  gave  themselves  any 
trouble  about  what  they  thought ;  and  no  effort  whatever 
was  made  to  allay  their  apprehensions,  or  at  all  to  unde- 
ceive them.  Their  minds  were  left  to  the  operation  of 
their  fears,  to  dissipate  which  if  any  pains  had  been 
taken,  it  is  certain  that  these  horrid  conceptions  enter- 
tained of  orangemen  could  never  have  taken  such  strong 
hold  of  their  scared  imaginations,  and  that  violence  would 
hare  been  repressed  in  its  origin.  I  had  the  good  for- 
tune to  succeed  sg  far,  in  my  own  neighbourhood,  as  to 
induce  the  people  to  remain  in  their  houses  at  night;  and 
the  trouble  it  gave  me  to  effect  so  much  cannot  be  con- 
ceived without  actual  experience.  I  was  much  amazed 
to  find  that  this  notion  was  so  firmly  entertained  by  some 
people  of  respectability,  that  I  believe  myself  to  have 
been  the  only  person  that  slept  in  a  house  wherein  I  wr4s 
on  a  visit.    The  fears      the  family  had  been  so  great, 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


5% 


that  they  had  formed  a  plan  of  escape,  in  case  of  any 
attempt  by  the  orangemen  to  murder  them  in  the  night, 
and  with  this  plan  I  was  made  acquainted  the  next 
morning.  I  endeavoured  to  inculcate  my  own  fixed 
opinion  of  the  impossibility  of  a  Christian  harbouring  the 
thought  of  putting  to  death  an  unoffendingfellow-creature. 
The  disposition  is  too  shocking  for  any  Christian  to 
cherish  against  another;  but  more  especially  so  for  a 
Christian  boasting  that  of  all  persuasions  his  own  dis- 
poses most  to  liberality.  I  rejected  the  odious,  infernal 
thought  with  abhorrence,  and  railed  at  the  weakness 
that  would  give  it  a  moment's  reception  in  the  mind  ; 
and  I  succeeded  in  dispelling  the  fears  of  some  of  my 
friends. 

The  minds  of  the  people  being  thus  greatly  irritated, 
(particularly  by  the  impunity  of  the  acts  of  outrage 
already  related,)  and  their  alarms  having  made  them 
abandon  their  houses  at  night,  they  collected  in  great 
numbers  in  their  lurking-places.  Measures  of  self-defence 
were  naturally  suggested  in  consequence  of  their  appre- 
hensions, and  they  were  readily  led  to  adopt  the  means 
that  were  deemed  best  calculated  to  ensure  security.  The 
united  Irishmen  eagerly  advanced  the  arguments  most 
likely  to  induce  the  body  of  the  people  to  embrace  their 
system,  and  they  met  with  powerful  support  and  co- 
operation from  those  of  the  opposite  faction  ;  whose 
violent  conduct  ancV  zealous  persecutions  proved  more 
efficacious  in  urging  on  the  people,  than  any  allurements 
whatsoever.  Men  thus  desperately  circumstanced  uphold 
and  stimulate  each  other's  confidence,  and  all  consideration 
of  the  weakness  of  individual  exertion  is  removed  by  a 
reliance  on  collective  force.  In  this  state  is  man  no 
longer  connected  in  the  way  of  civil  society,  but  finds 
himself  surrounded  by  one  convulsed  and  half-dissolved, 
and  a  fever  of  the  mind  ensues  that  banishes  all  idea 
of  calm  circumspection.  A  soul  thus  impressed  cannot 
abide  in  solitude,  and  is  therefore  led  by  irresistible 
impulse  to  adopt  any  plausible  project  that  holds  out 
additional  means  of  preservation,  protection,  or  defence. 

On  the  25th  day  of  April,  1798,  an  assembly  of  twenty 
•even  magistrates  was  held  at  Gorey,  wheve  it  was  re* 
KJlved.  that  the  whole  county  of  Wexford  should  oi 


60 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


foi  fchwith  proclaimed ;  and  this  accordingly  took  place  oft 
the  27th.  From  this  period  forward,  many  magistrates  of 
the  county  made  themselves  conspicuous  in  practisj 
the  summary  mode  of  quieting  the  country,  by  the  inflic- 
tion of  all  kinds  of  torture.  They  seem,  indeed,  to  hare 
emulated  or  rather  rivalled  the  conduct  of  the  magistrates 
Mother  counties,  who  had  made  trial  of  the  salutary 
fleets  of  persecution  somewhat  sooner.  In  the  several 
Neighbourhoods  of  Ross,  Enniscorthy,  and  Gorey,  the 
>eople  suffered  most,  as  in  each  of  these  towns  a  magis* 
/rate  started  up,  eager  for  the  glorious  distinction  of  out- 
stripping all  others,  each  by  his  own  superior  deeds  of 
death,  deflagration,  and  torture  !  but  it  is  to  be  observed, 
that  none  of  these  men  had  ever  before  possessed  either 
talents  or  respectability  sufficient  to  entitle  him  to  take  a 
leading  part;  yet,  if  burning  houses,  whipping  and  half- 
hanging  numbers,  hanging  some  all  out,  and  shooting 
others,  with  attendant  atrocities,  constitute  the  charac- 
teristics of  loyal  and  good  magistrates,  they  must  be 
allowed  strong  claim  to  eminence.  In  the  meantime  it 
must  be  observed  also,  that  such  proceedings,  however 
sanctioned,  are  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  the  constitution, 
a  principal  part  of  the  excellence  of  which  is  the  exclu- 
sion of  all  torture.  In  all  the  riots  and  disturbances  that 
took  place  in  England,  does  it  appear,  in  any  one  in- 
stance, that  an  infliction  of  torture  was  ever  attempted  ? 
Yet  have  we  heard  of  associations  \here,  as  alarming  in 
their  tendency  as  any  that  can  be  imputed  to  united 
Irishmen,  although  no  one  has  been  found  possessed  of 
sufficient  hardihood  there  to  try  this  desperate  experi- 
ment. Would  the  most  powerful,  the  richest,  or  the  most 
violent  man  in  England  be  hazardous  enough  to  treat  the 
meanest  subject  with  the  barbarous  severity  practised,  in 
numberless  instances,  on  respectable  as  well  as  humble 
individuals  in  Ireland  ?  the  attempt  would  be  too  danger- 
ous. I  apprehend  the  result  would  prove,  that  the  people 
would  rise  in  a  mass  in  resistance  to  such  oppressive 
treatment ;  and  it  is  submitted  to  the  determination  of 
the  candid  and  impartial,  if  the  feelings  of  the  people  of 
England  would  not  yield  to  such  tyranny  without  meeting 
it  with  the  most  violent  opposition,  whether  it  be  not 
natural  to  suppose,  that  it  must  have  roused  the  reswn*' 


IRISH  REBELLION.  6l 

ments  of  the  people  of  Ireland  ?  I  am  firmly  persuaded, 
that  the  conduct  of  the  magistrates  before  alluded  to, 
(and  of  some  others  not  entitled  to  quite  such  renown  in 
this  cause)  supported  by  the  yeomen  under  their  control, 
together  with  the  co-operation  of  the  military,  occasioned 
or  rather  forced  the  rising  of  the  people  in  the  county  oi 
Wexford.  While  I  endeavour  to  establish  the  truth  of 
this  assertion,  I  beg  the  reader's  attention  to  the  parti- 
cular dates  of  the  several  outrages,  and  of  the  respective 
periods  at  which  different  parts  of  the  county  joined  the 
insurgents,  as  it  will  be  necessary  to  take  them  in  regular 
order,  to  form  an  adequate  and  impartial  opinion.  The 
proclamation  of  the  county  of  Wexford  having  given 
greater  scope  to  the  ingenuity  of  magistrates  to  devise 
means  of  quelling  all  symptoms  of  rebellion,  as  well  as 
of  using  every  exertion  to  procure  discoveries,  they  soon 
fell  to  burning  of  houses  wherein  pikes  or  other  offensive 
weapons  were  discovered,  no  matter  how  brought  there  ; 
but  they  did  not  stop  here,  for  the  dwellings  of  suspected 
persons,  and  those  froirw  which  any  of  the  inhabitants 
were  found  to  be  absent  at  night,  Avere  also  consumed. 
This  circumstance  of  absence  from  the  houses  very  ge- 
nerally prevailed  through  the  country,  although  there 
were  the  strictest  orders  forbidding  it.  This  was  occa- 
sioned at  first,  as  was  before  observed,  from  apprehension 
of  the  orangemen,  but  afterwards  proceeded  from  the 
actual  experience  of  torture,  by  the  people,  from  the  yeo- 
men and  magistrates.  Some,  too,  abandoned  their  homes 
for  fear  of  being  whipped,  if,  on  being  apprehended, 
confessions  satisfactory  to  the  magistrates  could  either 
be  given  or  extorted,  and  this  infliction  many  persons 
seemed  to  fear  more  than  death  itself.  Many  unfortunate 
men  who  were  taken  in  their  own  houses  were  strung  up 
as  it  were  to  be  hanged,  but  were  let  downnow'and  then 
to  try  if  strangulation  would  oblige  them  to  become  in- 
formers. After  these  and  the  like  experiments,  several 
persons  languished  for  some  time,  and  at  length  perished 
in  consequence  of  them.  Smiths  and  carpenters,  whose 
assistance  was  considered  indispensable  in  the  fabrication 
of  pikes,  were  pointed  out,  on  evidence  of  their  tradeg 
as  the  first  and  fittest  objects  of  torture.  But  the  saga- 
city of  seme  magistrates  became  at  length  so  acute,  from 


62 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


habit  and  exercise,  that  they  discerned  an  united  Irish- 
man even  at  the  first  glance !  and  their  zeal  never  suf. 
fered  any  person  whom  they  deigned  to  honour  with  such 
distinction,  to  pass  off  without  convincing  proof  of  theil 
attention.  The  two  following  instances  are  selected  from 
"an  account  of  the  late  rebellion,"  by  Mr.  Alexander, 
a  Protestant  inhabitant  of  Ross,  who  keeps  an  academy 
in  that  town : — 

"  I  now  heard  of  many  punishments  of  suspected  per- 
sons, both  by  flogging  and  strangulation,  being  put  into 
execution  in  the  barrack-yard  (in  RossJ,  to  extort  con- 
fession of  guilt.  There  were  two  of  these  victims  brought 
from  the  barrack  to  the  court-house  to  undergo  a  repe- 
tition of  former  punishments.  One  of  them,  of  the 
name  of  Driscol,  was  found  in  Camlin  Wood,  near  Ross, 
where  he  said  he  generally  wandered  as  a  hermit.  Upon 
him  were  found  two  Roman  Catholic  prayer-books,  with 
which  it  is  supposed  he  administered  oaths  of  disloyalty. 
He  had  been  strangled  three  times  and  flogged  four 
times  during  confinement,  but  to  no  purpose  !  His  fel- 
low-sufferer was  one  Fitzpatrick  of  Dunganstown,  near 
Sutton's  parish.  This  man  had  been  a  Newfoundland 
sailor,  but  long  utterly  disqualified  to  follow  that  occupa- 
tion by  reason  of  an  inveterate  scurvy  in  his  legs.  He 
therefore  commenced  abecedarian,  near  Sutton's  parish. 
It  happened  that  a  magistrate  who  was  a  yeoman,  and 
others  of  his  corps,  passed  by  his  noisy  mansion,  which 
was  no  other  than  a  little  thatched  stable,  that,  like  a 
bee-hive,  proclaimed  the  industry  of  its  inhabitants. 
The  magistrate  entered,  followed  by  the  other  yeomen. 
*  Here  is  a  man,'  says  the  magistrate,  speaking  of  the 
master,  as  I  shall  call  him,  though  his  authority  was 
now  for  #  some  months  to  have  an  end — and  a  severe 
vacation  it  was — '  Here  is  a  man  who,  I  presume,  can 
have  no  objection  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance.  What 
do  you  say,  Mr.  Teacher?' — 1  O  dar  a  leoursa,'  (t.  e.  by 
this  book)  ' 1  will  take  it,  sir,  and  thank  you  for  bringing 
it  to  me.'  So  saying,  he  took  the  book,  which  the  ma- 
gistrate held  forth,  and  not  only  took  the  oath  with  the 
most  cordial  emphasis,  but  added  another  expressive  of 
his  loyalty  at  all  times.  Upon  this,  the  magistrate  re- 
garded his  companions  with  a  look  of  dry  humour,  and 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


observed,  that  th?'s  must  be  a  loyal  man  indeed.  '"VTeu 
then,  my  loyal  friend,  I  suppose  you  will  readily  sweat 
to  all  the  pikes  and  to  the  owners  and  possessors  of  tbern. 
of  which  you  have  any  knowledge?  The  man  swore  he 
had  no  certain  knowledge  of  the  kind  ;  and  that  he  never 
saw  a  rebel's  pike  in  his  life,  or  a  pike  of  any  kind  since 
the  rebellion.  4  Then,'  says  the  magistrate,  '  you  shah 
swear  that  you  will,  to  the  utmost  of  your  future  know- 
ledge or  information  this  way,  give  in  the  best  manner 
you  can,  all  such  information  to  a  lawful  magistrate,  or 
other  officer  in  his  majesty's  service.'  '  No,  sir,'  answered 
Fitzpatrick,  4 1  will  not  swear  that :  I  will  bring:  no  man's 
blood  on  my  head  ;  and  if  I  do  inform,  who  will  support 
and  protect  me  when  I  have  lost  all  my  scholars,  and  my 
neighbours  turn  upon  me?'  Upon  this  he  was  immedi- 
ately apprehended  and  escorted  to  Ross:  he  was  not 
strangled,  however,  but  flogged  with  great  severity  ;  and 
it  was  not  with  dry  eyes  that  I  saw  the  punishment 
inflicted  on  this  humble  pioneer  of  literature.  About  a 
month  after  the  battle,  both  the?e  men  were  tried  before 
General  Cowley,  and  matters  appearing  no  farther  against 
them  than  I  have  stated,  they  were  liberated  from  a  close 
and  filthy  confinement.  The  general  presented  both  with 
a  small  sum  of  money,  expressing  a  good-natured  concern, 
that  he  could  not  then  give  them  any  greater  pecuniary 
assistance.  He  also  gave  them  written  protections,  ex- 
pressive of  his  opinion  of  their  being  peaceably  disposed. 
I  never  once  heard  an  authentic  account  of  any  imme- 
diate good  effect  produced  by  these  punishments.  How- 
ever, it  is  most  certain,  that  the  severities  in  general 
served  to  accelerate  the  rebellion,  and  thereby,  very 
considerably,  to  weaken  its  progress."* 

Many  innocent  men  were  thus  taken  up  while  peace- 
ably engaged  in  their  own  private  concerns,  walking 
along  the  road,  or  passing  through  the  market  in  the 
several  towns,  without  any  previous  accusation,  but  in 
consequence  of  military  whim,  or  the  caprice  of  magis- 
terial loyalty  ;  and  those  who  had  been  at  market,  and 
Wfcrc  passed  by  unnoticed,  had  the  news  of  a  public  exhi- 
to  bring  borne  j  for  the  unfortunate  vivtiiiifl  tliua 

See  A leraiider's  account  of  the  rebellion,  pages  2b, 


H 


HISTORY  OF  THB 


leizpA  upon,  were  instantly  subjected,  at  least  to  th& 
torture  of  public  whipping.  People  of  timid  dispositions, 
Inerefore,  avoided  going  to  market,  fearing  that  tLey 
ought  be  forced  to  display  the  like  spectacle.  Provisions 
of  course  became  dear,  for  want  of  the  usual  supply  in 
tne  market  towns  ;  and  the  military,  to  redress  this  evil, 
went  out  into  the  country  and  brought  in  what  the;? 
wanted,  at  what  price  they  pleased  ;  the  owners  think- 
ing themselves  well  treated  if  they  got  but  half  the  value 
of  their  goods ;  and  in  case  of  a  second  visit,  happy  if 
they  escaped  unhurt,  which,  however,  was  not  always 
the  case  ;  and  thus  were  the  minds  of  the  people  brought 
to  admit  such  powerful  impressions  of  terror,  that  death 
itself  was  sometimes  the  consequence.  The  following  is 
a  strong  instance  of  this  melancholy  fact,  related  by  the  y 
Rev.  Mr.  Gordon : — 

4<  Whether  an  insurrection  in  the  then  existing  state 
of  the  kingdom  would  have  taken  place  in  the  county  of 
Wexford,  or  in  ease  of  its  eruption,  how  far  less  formi- 
dable and  sanguinary  it  would  have  been,  if  no  acts  of 
severity  had  been  committed  by  the  soldiery,  the  yeo- 
men, or  their  supplementary  associates,  without  the 
direct  authority  of  their  superiors,  op  command  of  the 
magistrate,  is  a  question  which  I  am  not  able  positively 
to  answer.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  Gorey,  if  I  am  not 
mistaken,  the  terror  of  the  whippings  was  in  particular 
30  great,  that  the  people  would  have  been  extremely  glad 
to  renounce  for  ever  all  notions  of  opposition  to  govern- 
ment, if  they  could  have  been  assured  of  permission  to 
remain  in  a  state  of  quietness.  As  an  instance  of  this 
terror,  I  shall  relate  the  following  fact : — On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  23d  of  May,  a  labouring  man,  named  Denis 
M 'Daniel,  came  to  my  house  with  looks  of  the  utmost 
consternation  and  dismay,  and  confessed  to  me  that  he 
had  taken  the  united  Irishman's  oath,  and  had  paid  for 
a  pike,  with  which  he  had  not  yet  been  furnished,  nine- 
teen-pence  halfpenny,  to.  one  Kilty  a  smith,  who  had 
administered  the  oath  to  him  and  many  others.  While  I 
sent  my  eldest  son,  who  was  a  lieutenant  of  yeomanry* 
4o  am>st  Kilty,  I  exhorted  M 'Daniel  to  surrender  3ii*n* 
nulf  to  a  magistrate,  and  make  his  confession  ,  but  tiiltf 
he  poutivoly  refused,  saying  that  h*  should,  in  that  case, 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


be  lashed  to  make  him  produce  a  pike,  which  he  had 
lot,  and  to  confess  what  he  knew  not.  I  then  advioed 
Aim,  as  the  only  alternative,  to  remain  quietly  at  hornet 
promising  that  if  he  should  be  arrested  on  the  informa- 
tion of  others,  I  would  represent  his  case  to  the  magis- 
trates. He  took  my  advice,  but  the  fear  of  arrest  and 
lashing  had  so  taken  possession  of  his  thoughts  that  he 
could  neither  eat  nor  sleep  ;  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
25th,  he  fell  on  his  face  and  expired  in  a  little  grove  near 
my  house."* 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Gordon,  from  whose  history  I  have 
quoted  the  foregoing  narrative,  is  a  clergyman  of  the 
Established  Church,  who  resided  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Gorey,  as  a  curate,  for  twenty-three  years  ;  and  as  he 
was  an  eye-witness,  his  relation  of  the  fact  deserves  the 
utmost  credit.  He  had  every  opportunity  of  watching 
the  approach  of  the  insurrection,  and  I  sincerely  wish 
there  were  many  like  him  possessed  of  liberal  sentiments 
and  benevolent  feelings  for  the  delusions  and  sufferings 
of  the  people.  With  regard  to  his  opinion,  that  they 
would  remain  quiet  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Gorey,  if 
they  were  certain  of  being  left  at  peace  at  home,  I  per- 
fectly coincide  with  him  ;  and  can  confidently  assert  the 
same  of  the  neighbourhood  in  which  I  resided.  It  was 
not  possible  that  the  convulsed  state  of  the  country  could 
escape  the  observation  of  any  humane  or  intelligent  per- 
son :  an  inquiry  into  the  cause  would  naturally  succeed 
such  notice,  and  the  result  must  be  the  consequent  con- 
viction of  this  truth.  I  have  also  reason  to  believe,  that 
such  was  the  disposition  throughout  the  whole  county, 
as  I  have  heard  several  respectable  magistrates  and  other 
persons  of  veracity  from  various  parts  of  it  express  the  same 
sentiment;  and  as  each  individual  was  undoubtedly  the  best 
judge  in  his  own  neighbourhood  of  the  conduct  of  the  in- 
habitants/ the  inference  to  be  collected  from  these  several 
uniform  statements  must  be  conclusive  evidence  for  the 
•stablishment  of  a  fact,  to  which  subsequent  events  afford 
A  strong  corroboration. 

While  the  minds  of  the  people  were  in  this  state  ol 
distraction  and  alarm,  numbers,  condemned  to  transpor- 


•S«e  Gordon's  History  of  the  Irish  Rebellion,  ;p.  87  3& 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


tation  by  the  magistrates  of  other  counties,  daily  passed 
through  the  county  of  Wexford  on  their  way  to  Duncan, 
non-fort.  Groups  of  from  twelve  to  fifteen  carloads  at  a 
time  have  gone  through  Ross  alone.  These  terrifying 
examples  added  if  possible  to  the  apprehension  already 
entertained,  and  the  precedent  was  soon  after  put  in 
practice  in  the  county  of  Wexford  itself. 

Great  as  the  atrocities  already  related  may  appear,  (and 
surely  they  are  very  deplorable,)  enormities  still  more 
shocking  to  humanity  remained  to  be  perpetrated.  How- 
ever grating  to  generous  and  benevolent  feeling  the  sad 
detail  must  prove,  imperious  truth  imposes  the  irksome 
necessity  of  proceeding  to  facts. 

Mr.  Hunter  Gowan  had  for  many  years  distinguished 
himself  by  his  activity  in  apprehending  robbers,  for 
which  he  was  rewarded  with  a  pension  of  £100  per 
annum,  and  it  were  much  to  be  wished  that  every  one 
who  has  obtained  a  pension  has  as  well  deserved  it.  Now 
exalted  to  the  rank  of  magistrate,  and  promoted  to  be 
captain  of  a  corps  of  yeomen,  he  was  zealous  in  exertions 
to  inspire  the  people  about  Gor«y  with  dutiful  submission 
to  the  magistracy,  and  a  respectful  awe  of  the  yeomanry. 
On  a  public  day  in  the  week  preceding  the  insurrection, 
the  town  of  Gorey  beheld  the  triumphal  entry  of  Mr. 
Gowan  at  the  head  of  his  corps,  with  his  sword  drawn, 
and  a  human  finger  stuck  on  the  point  of  it. 

With  this  trophy  he  marched  into  the  town,  parading 
up  and  down  the  streets  several  times,  so  that  there  was 
not  a  person  in  Gorey  who  did  not  witness  this  exhibi- 
tion ;  while  in  the  meantime  the  triumphant  corps  dis- 
played ail  the  devices  of  orangemen.  After  the  labour 
and  fatigue  of  the  day,  Mr.  Gowan  and  his  men  retired 
to  a  public-house  to  refresh  themselves,  and,  like  true 
blades  of  game,  their  punch  was  stirred  about  with 
the  finger  that  had  graced  their  ovation,  in  imitation 
of  keen  fox  hunters  who  whisk  a  bowl  of  punch  with  the 
brush  of  a  fox  before  their  boozing  commences.  This 
captain  and  magistrate  afterwards  went  to  the  house  of 
Mr.  Jones,  where  his  daughters  were  ;  and,  while  taking 
a  snack  that  was  set  before  him,  he  bragged  of  having 
blooded  his  corps  that  day,  and  that  they  were  as  stanch 
blood-hounds  as  any  in  the  world.   The  daughters  begged 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


6? 


of  their  father  to  show  them  the  croppy  finger,  which  he 
deliberately  took  from  his  pocket  and  handed  to  them. 
Misses  dandled  it  about  with  senseless  exultation,  at  which 
a  young  lady  in  the  room  was  so  shocked  that  she  turned 
about  to  a  window,  holding  her  hand  to  her  face  to  avoid 
the  horrid  sight.  Mr.  Gowan  perceiving  this,  took  the 
finger  from  his  daughters,  and  archly  dropped  it  into  the 
disgusted  lady's  bosom.  She  instantly  fainted,  and  thus 
the  scene  ended  ! ! !  Mr.  Gowan  constantly  boa&ted  of 
this  and  other  similar  heroic  actions,  which  he  repeated 
in  the  presence  of  Brigade-major  Fitzgerald,  on  whom 
he  had  waited  officially  ;  but,  so  far  from  meeting  with 
his  wonted  applause,  the  major  obliged  him  instantly  to 
leave  the  company. 

Enniscorthy  and  its  neighbourhood  were  similarly  pro- 
tected by  the  activity  of  Archibald  Hamilton  Jacob,  aided 
by  the  yeomen  cavalry,  thoroughly  equipped  for  this 
kind  of  service.  They  scoured  the  country,  having  in 
their  train  a  regular  executioner,  completely  appointed 
with  his  implements — a  hanging  rope  and  a  cat-o'-nine- 
ta-ils.  Many  detections  and  consequent  prosecutions  of 
united  Irishmen  soon  followed.  A  law  had  been  recently 
enacted,  that  magistrates  upon  their  own  authority  could 
sentence  to  transportation  persons  accused  and  convict- 
ed before  them.  Great  numbers  were  accordingly  taken 
up,  prosecuted,  and  condemned.  Some,  however,  ap- 
pealed to  an  adjournment  of  a  quarter  session  held  in 
Wexford,  on  the  23d  of  May,  in  the  county  court-house ; 
at  which  three  and  twenty  magistrates  from  different 
parts  of  the  county  attended.  Here  all  the  private  sen- 
tences were  confirmed,  except  that  of  one  man  who  was 
brought  in  on  horseback  that  morning,  carrying  a  pike 
with  a  handle  of  enormous  length  through  Wexford  town, 
on  his  way  to  the  gaol.  This  exhibition  procured  him  the 
reversion  of  his  sentence,  at  the  instance  of  the  very  ma- 
gistrates who  had  condemned  him.  In  the  course  of  the 
trials  on  these  appeals  in  the  public  court-house  of  W ex- 
ford,  Mr.  A.  H.  Jacob  appeared  as  evidence  against  the 
prisoners,  and  publicly  avowed  the  happy  discoveries  he 
had  made  in  consequence  of  inflicting  the  torture  :  many 
instances  of  whipping  and  strangulation  he  particularly 
detailed  with  a  degree  of  self-approiStion  and  compia- 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


cency,  that  clearly  demonstrated  how  highly  he  vr&A 
pleased  to  rate  the  merit's  of  his  own  great  and  loyal  ser- 
vices ! 

From  the  construction  of  the  new  law  regarding  the 
discretionary  power  of  magistrates,  the  ratification  of 
these  sentences  did  not  surprise  me,  except  in  two  in- 
stances, at  the  discussion  of  which  I  was  actually  pre- 
sent. One  was  that  of  a  Roman  Catholic  priest  of  the 
name  of  Dixon,  taken  up  shortly  before  by  Captain 
Boyd,  on  the  information  of  a  gardener,  who  averred  he 
had  been  in  Wexford  on  a  market  day,  in  a  public-house, 
where  he  met  with  the  priest,  who  spent  a  considerable 
time,  he  said,  to  induce  him  to  become  an  united  Irish- 
man ;  very  plausibly  relating  a  train  of  circumstances 
tending  to  that  effect.  In  contradiction  to  this  man's 
testimony,  there  appeared  three  credible  witnesses,  de- 
scribing the  situation  of  the  house  and  the  several  compa- 
nies there  assembled  at  the  time  specified ;  by  which  it 
was  manifest  that  the  particulars  stated  by  the  prosecutor 
wejre  utterly  unfounded,  as  they  could  not  possibly  have 
taken  place  without  their  knowledge.  The  other  was 
that  of  a  man  named  Wiliiam  Graham,  servant  to  Lieu- 
tenant Joseph  Gray,  of  the  Wexford  yeomen  cavalry. 
He  was  taken  up  for  being  out  of  his  master's  house  at 
eleven  o'clock  at  night,  and  was  supposed  to  be  an  united 
Irishman.  His  defence  was  a  good  character  given  him 
by  different  gentlemen,  and  that  although  the  general 
proclamation  of  the  county  prohibited  all  persons  from 
being  out  of  their  dwellings  at  night,  yet  from  the  peace- 
able demeanour  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Wex- 
ford, so  rigorous  and  strict  an  adherence  to  its  literal 
tenor  had  not  been  insisted  on  in  any  one  instance  but 
against  him.  However,  the  alleged  necessity  of  public 
example  was  a  sufficient  excuse  with  the  majority  of  the 
magistrates  to  condemn  these  men  to  transportation. 

The  magistrates  after  this  public  discussion  retired  to 
the  grand-jury  room  to  deliberate,  from  whence  the  fol- 
lowing public  notice  was  issued,  printed,  and  distributed 
through  the  county  : — 

"  Notice. — We,  the  high  sheriff  and  magistrates  of 
the  county  of  Wexford,  assembled  at  sessions  held  at  the 
county  court-house  in  Wexford,  this  23d  day  of  May 


| 

1 
1 

! 

! 

; 

IRISH  REBELLION.  69 

a 796,  have  received  the  most  clear  and  unequivocal  evi- 
dence, private  as  well  as  public,  that  the  system  and 
plans  of  those  deluded  persons  who  style  themselves,  and 
are  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  united  Irishmen, 
have  been  generally  adopted  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
•everal  parishes  in  this  county,  who  have  provided 
themselves  with  pikes  and  other  arms  for  the  purpose  of 
carrying  their  plans  into  execution.    And  whereas  we 
*mve  received  information,  that  the  inhabitants  of  some 
parts  of  this  county  have,  within  these  few  days  past, 
returned  to  their  allegiance,  surrendering  their  arms, 
and  confessing  the  errors  of  their  past  misconduct.  Now 
we,  the  high  sheriff  and  magistrates,  assembled  as  afore- 
said do  give  this  public  notice,  that  if  within  the  space 
of  fourteen  days  from  the  date  hereof,  the  inhabitants  of 
the  other  parts  of  this  county,  do  not  come  in  to  some  of 
the  magistrates  of  this  county,  and  surrender  their  arms 
or  other  offensive  weapons,  concealed  or  otherwise,  and 
give  such  proof  of  their  return  to  their  allegiance  as  shall 
appear  sufficient,  an  application  will  be  made  to  govern- 
ment to  send  the  army,  at  free  quarters,  into  such 
parishes  as  shall  fail  to  comply,  to  enforce  due  obedience 
to  this  notice. 

Edward  Percival,  sheriff            Edward  D'Arcy, 
Courtown,                              John  Heatly, 
John  Henry  Lyster,                  John  Grogan, 
James  Boyd.                           Archibald  Jacol 
George  Le-Hnnte,                    Edward  Turner 
Thomas  Handcock,                   Isaac  Cornock, 
John  James,                           Cornelius  Grog£ 
John  Pounden,                        Francis  Turner, 
Hawtrey  White,                       "William  Toole, 
James  White,                         Richard  Newton  KiLv, 
Ebenezer  Jacob,                      Charles  Vero. 
William  Hore, 

"  Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  thanks  of  this 
meeting  be  given  to  Archibald  Jacob,  Esq.  for  his  manly, 
spirited,  active,  and  efficacious  exertions  as  a  magistrate 
for  the  establishment  and  preservation  of  the  public 
peace." 

I  have  heard  some  of  these  Tery  magistrates  give  opi- 
nions so  totally  contrary  to  what  is  publicly  declared  in 
this  resolution  of  thanks,  that  it  is  with  the  utmost  sur- 

TO 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


prise  I  saw  their  names  annexed  to  a  document,  whereby 
they  publicly  approved  of  conduct  whereof  in  private 
they  expressed  the  strongest  detestation.  But  it  often 
happens  that  well-disposed  men  are  led  thus  to  sanction 
proceedings  they  abhor ;  not  possessing  sufficient  firrr- 
ness  of  mind  to  maintain  their  own  sentiments,  and  fear- 
ing that  their  humanity  should  appear  to  derogate  in  any 
degree  from  their  loyalty.  It  is  remarkable,  that  on  this 
very  day  the  rebellion  broke  out  in  the  county  of  Kil- 
dare,  the  news  of  wnich,  running  as  it  were  with  the 
wind,  quickly  reached  the  county  of  Wexford.  The 
people  in  this  county,  however,  who  were  possessed  of 
pikes  or  other  arms  were  continually  crowding  in  to  the 
different  magistrates  throughout  the  whole  county,  for 
the  purpose  of  surrendering  them,  conformable  to  the 
notice  before  mentioned  ;  and  following  the  like  example 
set  them  by  the  county  of  Wicklow,  where  it  appears 
there  had  been  leaders  (afterwards  imprisoned)  who  made 
discoveries  which  led  the  public  to  believe  that  all  idea  of 
a  rising  was  at  that  time  given  up. 

As  this  notice  specified  that  there  were  fourteen  days 
allowed  for  the  return  of  the  people  to  their  allegiance, 
it  was  reasonably  concluded  the  protection  of  such  as 
would  submit  within  that  time  was  guaranteed  by  the 
magistrates  who  had  signed  it ;  and  it  was  also  natural 
to  imply,  that  all  measures  would  cease  during  that  in- 
terval which  might  tend  in  any  degree  to  subvert  the 
peaceable  intentions  of  the  people.  Would  to  God  !  that 
even  at  this  period  the  spirit  of  this  publication  had  been 
adhered  to ;  for,  in  such  an  event,  it  is  very  probable 
that  the  county  of  Wexford  would  have  escaped  the 
dreadful  misfortune  of  open  insurrection !  In  Ennis- 
corthy,  Ross,  and  Gorey,  several  persons  were  not  only 
put  to  the  torture  in  the  usual  manner,  but  a  greater 
number  of  houses  were  burnt,  and  measures  of  the 
strongest  coercion  were  practised,  although  the  people 
continued  to  flock  in  to  the  different  magistrates  for  pro- 
tections. Mr.  Perry  of  Inch,  a  Protestant  gentleman, 
was  seized  on  and  brought  a  prisoner  to  Gorey,  guarded 
by  the  North  Cork  militia ;  one  of  whom,  the  noted  Ser- 
jeant nicknamed  Tom.  the  Devil — gave  him  woful  ex- 
perience of  his  ingenuity  and  adroitness  at  devising  tor- 


IKISH  REBELLION. 


71 


ment.  As  a  specimen  of  his  savoir  /aire,  he  cut  off  the 
hair  of  his  head  very  closely,  cut  the  Bign  of  trie  cross 
from  the  front  to  the  back,  and  transversely  from  ear  to 
ear,  still  closer ;  and  probably  a  pitched  cap  not  being 
in  readiness,  gunpowder  was  mixed  through  the  hair, 
which  was  set  on  fire,  and  the  shocking  process  repeated, 
until  every  atom  of  hair  that  remained  could  be  easily 
pulled  out  by  the  roots  j  and  still  a  burning  candle  was 
continually  applied,  until  the  entire  was  completely 
singed  away,  and  the  head  left  totally  and  miserably 
blistered  !  At  Carnew  things  were  carried  to  still  greater 
length  ;  for,  independent  of  burning,  whipping,  and  tor- 
ture in  all  shapes,  on  Friday,  the  '25th  of  May,  twenty- 
eight  prisoners  were  brought  out  of  the  place  of  confine- 
ment, and  deliberately  shot  in  a  ball-alley  by  the  yeo- 
men, and  a  party  of  the  Antrim  militia  ;  the  infernal 
deed  being  sanctioned  by  the  presence  of  their  officers ! 
Many  of  the  men  thus  inhumanly  butchered,  had  been 
confined  on  mere  suspicion  !  ! ! 

Lord  Courtown  is  said  to  have  been  for  adopting 
lenient  measures ;  and  although  it  might  be  reasonably 
thought  that  his  rank  and  character  ought  to  have  had 
due  influence  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Gorey,  yet  his 
benevolent  intentions  were  overpowered  by  the  disposi- 
tion to  severity  of  most  of  the  magistrates ;  and  con- 
sequently, the  measures  of  the  most  violent  were  adopted. 
The  following  is  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gordon's  representation 
of  his  lordship's  conduct : — M  As  the  Earl  of  Courtown 
had  performed  much  in  providing  a  force  to  obviate  or 
suppress  rebellion,  so  his  treatment  of  the  common  people, 
by  his  afiable  manners,  had  been  always  such  as  was  best 
adapted  to  produce  content  in  the  lower  classes,  and  pre- 
vent a  proneness  to  insurrection.  I  consider  myself  as 
bound  in  strictness  of  justice  to  society,  thus  far  tore- 
present  the  conduct  of  this  nobleman.  Doubtless,  the 
people  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Gorey  were  the  last  and 
least  violent  of  all  in  the  county  of  Wexford,  in  rising 
against  the  established  authority  ;  and  certainly  the  be- 
haviour of  the  Stopford  family  in  that  neighbourhood  has 
been  always  remarkably  conciliating  and  humane." — 
Page  104. ' 

Can  any  thins  be  more  convincing  than  this  testU 


72 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


moiiy,  to  show  of  what  -inestimable  value  it  is  for  any 
country  to  possess  good  men  ;  but  especially  for  Ireland, 
where  it  is  a  prevalent  system  to  treat  inferiors  with  the 
utmost  cruelty  and  contempt,  as  if  they  were  a  different 
and  odious  species  of  being  ?  If  one  family  could  effect 
so  much  good  by  their  affable  and  conciliating  manners, 
is  it  not  painful  to  reflect  on  the  consequences  of  a  con- 
trary behaviour  to  a  people,  who,  of  all  others  in  the 
world,  are  the  most  generous  and  open-hearted;  and 
want  only  the  fostering  hand  of  humanity,  due  encou- 
ragement, and  a  cultivation  of  their  natural  talents,  to 
vie  in  excellence  with  any  race  of  men  on  the  globe.  ' 

Having  spent  Friday,  the  25th  of  May,  with  Mr. 
Turner,  a  magistrate  of  the  county,  at  Newfort,  he 
requested  of  me  to  attend  him  next  day  at  Newpark,  the 
seat  of  Mr.  Fitzgerald,  where,  as  the  most  central  place, 
he  had  appointed  to  meet  the  people  of  the  neighbour- 
hood. I  accordingly  met  him  there,  on  Saturday  the 
26th,  where  he  continued  the  whole  day  administering 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  vast  numbers  of  people :  a  cer- 
tificate was  given  to  every  person  who  took  the  oath, 
and  surrendered  any  offensive  weapon.  Many  attended 
who  offered  to  take  the  oath,  and  also  to  depose  that  they 
were  not  united  Irishmen,  and  that  they  possessed  no 
arms  of  any  kind  whatever  :  and  earnestly  asked  for  cer- 
tificates. But  so  great  was  the  concourse  of  these,  that 
considering  the  trouble  of  writing  them  out,  it  was  found 
impossible  to  supply  them  all  with  such  testimonials  at 
that  time.  Mr.  Turner,  therefore,  continued  to  receive 
surrendered  arms,  desiring  such  as  had  none,  to  wait  a 
more  convenient  opportunity.  Numbers,  however,  still 
conceiving  that  they  would  not  be  secure  without  a  writ- 
ten protection,  offered  ten  times  their  intrinsic  value  to 
such  as  had  brought  pike  blades  to  surrender ;  but  these, 
being  unwilling  to  forego  the  benefit  of  a  written  pro- 
tection for  the  moment,  refused  to  part  with  their  wea- 
pons on  any  other  consideration.  Among  the  great  num- 
bers assembled  on  this  occasion  were  some  men  from  the 
village  of  Ballaghkeen,  who  had  the  appearance  of  being 
more  dead  than  alive,  from  the  apprehensions  they  were 
under  of  having  their  houses  burnt,  or  themselves  whipt, 
should  they  return  home.    These  apprehensions  had 


IJIISH  REBELLIOy. 


73 


been  excited  to  this  degree,  because  that  on  the  night  of 
Thursday  the  24th,  the  Enniscorthy  cavalry,  conducted 
by  Mr.  Archibald  Hamilton  Jacob,  had  come  to  Ballagh- 
keen  ;  but  on  hearing  the  approaching  noise,  the  inhabi- 
tants ran  out  of  their  houses,  and  fled  into  large  brakes 
of  furze  on  a  hill  immediately  above  the  village,  from 
whence  they  could  hear  the  cries  of  one  of  their  neigh- 
bours, who  was  dragged  out  of  his  house,  tied  up  to  a 
thorn-tree,  and  while  one  yeoman  continued  flogging 
him,  another  was  throwing  water  on  his  back.  The 
groans  of  the  unfortunate  sufferer,  from  the  stillness  of 
the  night,  reverberated  widely  through  the  appalled 
neighbourhood  ;  and  the  spot  of  execution  these  men  re- 
presented to  have  appeared  next  morning.  "  as  if  a  pig 
had  been  killed  there."  After  this  transaction,  Mr.  Jacob 
went  round  to  all  the  rest  of  the  houses,  and  signified, 
that  if  he  should  And  the  owners  out  of  them,  on  his  next 
visit,  he  would  burn  them.  These  men,  whose  counte- 
nances exhibited  marks  of  real  terror,  particularly  from 
apprehension  of  flogging  which  they  seemed  to  dread 
more  than  death  itself,  offered  to  surrender  themselves 
prisoners  to  Mr.  Turner,  who  did  all  in  his  power  to 
allay  their  fears,  offering  to  give  them  all  certificates,  the 
production  of  which  to  Mr.  Jacob,  he  was  sure  would 
afford  them  protection  ;  but  they  still  persisted  in  pre- 
ferring to  remain  as  prisoners  with  Mr.  Turner,  rather 
than  to  place  any  confidence  in  Mr.  Jacob.  Mr.  Turner 
then  gave  them  certificates,  declaring  their  absence  from 
home  to  he  by  Ins  permission,  to  be  left  with  their  fami- 
lies, and  told  them  they  might  come  to  his  house  if  they 
pleased.  Mr.  Turner's  feelings  appeared  but  too  sensi- 
bly affected  at  the  recital  of  these  excesses.  He  lamented 
that  such  scenes  had  been  exhibited,  and  said  he  had 
conceived  that  all  coercm  measures  were  to  cease, 
during  the  fourteen  days  ahowed  by  the  magistrates  for 
the  people  to  surrender  their  arms  ;  adding,  that  he 
greatly  feared  that  very  desirable  object  would  be  much 
retarded  by  such  violence,  which  would  prove  tho  more 
xamentable,  on  account  of  the  recent  news  from  the 
county  of  Kildare.  On  this  very  day,  too,  we  had  the 
mortification  to  be  informed  that  the  furniture  and  effects 
of  a  shop-keeDer  at  Enniscorthy  were  brought  out  and 


74 


HISTORY  OF  THB 


Durned  in  the  public  street;  and,  on  the  next  morning, 
a  man  was  hanged  there,  and  his  body  dragged  up  and 
down  several  times  through  the  market-place,  with 
shocking  inhumanity  and  inefficient  cruelty  !  i 

I  remained  the  whole  day  with  Mr.  Turner,  who  did 
not  go  home  till  after  ten  o'clock.  We  indulged  the  fond 
hope  at  parting,  that  the  county  of  Wexford  should  re- 
main quiet,  from  the  disposition  generally  shown  by  the 
people,  and  we  separated  with  the  expectation  of  being 
able  to  pay  our  friendly  visits  to  each  other  as  usual. 
Indeed  all  over  the  county  of  Wexford,  the  people  had 
now  given  up  all  thought  of  insurrection,  of  which  no- 
thing can  afford  a  more  convincing  proof  than  the  gene- 
ral surrender  of  arms ;  and  I  have  heard  respectable 
magistrates,  to  whom  they  were  surrendered,  declare 
their  conviction  to  the  same  effect.  Mr.  Richards,  of 
Solborough,  captain  of  the  Enniscorthy  cavalry;  Mr. 
Beauman.  of  Hyde-park,  captain  of  the  Coolgreny  caval- 
ry ;  Mr.  Cornock,  captain  of  the  Scarawalsh  infantry ; 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Colclough  of  Duffrey-hall,  distin- 
guished themselves  by  their  anxiety  to  satisfy  and  calm 
the  agitated  minds  of  the  populace  ;  and  were  busily  em- 
ployed in  granting  certificates  to  such  as  surrendered 
their  arms.  Many  other  magistrates  attended  at  differ- 
ent places  for  the  same  purpose.  Mr.  Bagnal  Harvey 
had  collected  the  arms  of  all  his  tenantry  and  neighbour- 
hood, and  on  this  very  day  (Saturday  the  26th  of  May,) 
brought  them  into  Wexford.  As  it  was  late  when  he 
delivered  them  up,  he  did  not  return  home  that  night, 
but  remained  in  town  ;  and  just  as  he  was  going  to  bed, 
he  was  arrested  by  Captain  Boyd,  and  lodged  in  the 
gaol.  Mr.  Percivall,  the  high  sheriff,  and  Captain  Boyd, 
with  a  strong  party  of  the  Wexford  cavalry,  proceeded 
on  the  same  night  to  Newpark,  the  seat  of  Mr.  Fitz- 
gerald, to  take  him  prisoner.  I  had  remained  there  that 
night,  and  was  alarmed  and  roused  from  my  bed  by  a 
loud  rapping  at  the  door  about  midnight,  which  I  soon 
discovered  to  be  the  party  before  mentioned,  who  came 
to  arrest  Mr.  Fitzgerald.  I  requested  permission  to 
accompany  my  friend,  which  was  granted  ;  but  as  these 
gentlemen  refused  taking  the  pikes  and  other  arms  that 
had  been  surrendered  at  the  place  the  day  before  to  Mr. 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


7a 


Turner,  and  had  remained  there,  I  despatched  a  messen- 
ger to  him  with  the  intelligence  of  what  had  happened, 
before  we  set  our  with  this  escort,  which  met  with  no 
other  delay  but  while  they  chose  to  continue  rummaging 
Mr.  Fitzgerald's  papers,  among  which,  by-the-bye,  they 
could  discover  nothing  that  could  in  the  remotest  degree 
criminate  him.  We  arrived  a  little  after  daylight  in 
Wexford,  where  Mr.  Fitzgerald  was  lodged  in  the  gaol. 
The  Wexford  cavalry  then  set  off  to  Ballyteigue,  ten 
miles  from  town,  from  whence  they  brought  Mr.  John 
Henry  Colclough  prisoner  in  the  course  of  the  day,  and 
lodged  him  also  in  the  gaol. 

Early  on  this  morning,  being  Whitsunday,  I  saw  Mr. 
Turner  on  his  entrance  into  Wexford.  He  brought  the 
first  intelligence  of  the  rising  of  the  people,  from  whom, 
he  said,  he  could  not  have  been  so  fortunate  as  to  escape 
but  for  my  messenger,  who  had  called  him  up  before 
day ;  otherwise  he  would  have  been  at  home  when  his 
house  was  attacked  by  the  multitude  for  arms,  as  were  all 
the  houses  throughout  the  whole  neighbourhood  at  that 
time.  When  he  had  giveii  notice  of  "the  fact  to  the  offi- 
cer  commanding  in  the  barracks,  I  accompanied  him  to 
the  gaol,  and  after  seeing  our  friend,  set  out  with  him 
to  Castlebridge,  where  finding  the  insurrection  much 
more  serious  than  was  at  first  imagined,  all  kind  of  par- 
leying being  deemed  ineffectual,  on  consultation  with  the 
officers  present,  I  returned  to  Wexford,  as  they  consi- 
dered my  situation  would  be  too  perilous  should  I  accom- 
pany them  in  coloured  clothes.  The  Shilmalier  cavalry, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Le-Hunte  had  already  assembled, 
before  the  arrival  of  one  hundred  and  ten  of  the  North 
Cork  militia,  who  took  route  by  the  lower  road  along  the 
sea-side,  while  the  yeomen  had  taken  the  upper  road  by 
Castlebridge.  Both  met  at  Ballifanock,  an  i  proceeded 
together  as  far  as  Ballinamonabeg,  where  Mr.  Turner  no* 
finding  a  man  of  the  name  of  Darby  Kavanagh,  who  kept 
a  public-house  there,  at  home,  and  haying  remembered 
that  he  had  surrendered  a  pike  the  day  before,  he  ordered 
his  house  to  be  set  on  fire,  after  getting  what  spirits  and 
beer  it  contained  to  refresh  the  soldiers,  who  were  much 
fatigued  after  their  hasty  march  through  heavy  sandy 
roads.   A  proposal  was  made  to  burn  the  chapel  of  Ballin- 


76 


HISTORI   OF  THE 


amonabeg  just  adjoining,  which  was  over-ruled,  particu* 
larly  by  Armstrong  Browne,  Esq.  who  observed  it  would 
be  a  very  indifferent  compliment  to  pay  the  Catholics  to 
burn  their  place  of  worship,  while  a  considerable  part 
of  the  force  then  assembled  were  of  that  persuasion,* 
which  sentiment  actually  prevented  the  burning  of  ths 
chapel. 

Having  halted  here  for  some  time,  they  proceeded 
three  miles  farther,  aaid  came  in  sight  of  the  insurgent* 
collected  in  great  numbers  on  the  hill  of  Oulart,  dis. 
tant  about  ten  miles  from  Wexford.  Colonel  Foote,  o 
the  North  Cork,  seeing  their  position  so  strong  and  com 
manding,  thought  it  advisable  not  to  attack  them  ;  but 
Major  Lombard,  of  the  same  regiment,  being  of  a  con- 
trary opinion,  orders  were  given  to  burn  two  houses, 
situated  in  a  hollow,  between  the  army  and  the  insur- 
gents, and  Mr.  Turner  volunteered  his  service  for  that 
purpose.  This  was  done  with  a  view  to  stimulate  the  in- 
surgents to  revenge,  and  thus,  if  possible,  to  induce  them 
to  abandon  the  advantage  of  their  situation.  This  feint, 
however,  not  succeeding,  and  Colonel  Foote  still  persist- 
ing in  his  opinion,  Major  Lombard  instantly  addressed 
the  soldiers  in  terms  animating  them  at  once  to  attack 
the  insurgents,  who,  he  said,  would  fly  at  their  approach. 
His  words  had  the  effect  of  making  them  advance.  They 
descended  from  the  small  eminence  which  they  occupied, 
and  crossing  the  valley  between,  began  to  ascend  the  hill 
of  Oulart,  while  the  Shilmalier  cavalry  took  a  circuitous 
route,  round  the  hill  to  the  left,  with  the  intention  of 
preventing  a  retreat,  but  in  fact  they  caused  numbers  to 
rally,  who  attempted  to  run  off,  on  perceiving  the  ap- 
proach of  a  serious  engagement.  This  also  contributed 
to  make  the  insurgents  rush  in  greater  numbers,  and  with 
accumulated  force,  on  the  North  Cork,  who  were  charg- 

*  Shilmalier  cavalry  present,  via.  Colonel  Le-Hunte,  Lieutenant 
Armstrong  Browne,  Lieutenant  Kavanagh,  Colonel  Watson,  Sergeant 
Edward  Turner,  Henry  Hatchell.  Samuel  Maude,  Richard  Gain  fort, 
Maurice  Jones,  and  Richard  Williams,  Protestants. — Nicholas  Dixon 
Ignatius  Rosseter,  Walter  Redmond,  James  Lambert,  Michael  Wad 
dick,  Richard  Kinselagh,  Charles  Dunn,  Patrick  Dixon,  and  — > 
Murphy,  Catholics. 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


1 


mg  up  the  hill.  They  had  fired  hut  two  vollev?  vhrx 
they  were  totally  discomfited.  This  success  of  the  insur- 
gents was  much  promoted  by  the  address  of  a  servant 
boy,  who,  as  the  military  were  ascending  the  bail,  ad- 
vised such  of  the  insurgents  as  were  then  about  him, 
to  lie  down  under  cover  of  the  ditches,  and  wail  the 
close  approach  of  the  military.  By  this  manoeuvre  these 
were  suddenly  surprised  by  a  force  not  greatly  outnum- 
bering themselves,  but  the  impetuosity  of  the  attack  oc- 
casioned their  total  overthrow,  while  the  fact  was,  at  the 
instant,  utterly  unknown  to  the  great  body  of  the  insur- 
gents, who  attended  their  commanders  on  the  other  side 
of  the  hill.  Of  the  North  Cork  party,  Major  Lombard, 
the  Hon.  Captain  de  Courcy,  Lieutenants  Williams,  Ware, 
Barry,  and  Ensign  Keogh,  were  left  on  the  field  of  battle. 
In  short,  none  escaped  except  Colonel  Foote,  a  sergeant 
who  mounted  the  major's  horse,  a  drummer,  and  two 
privates.  It  may  not  be  unworthy  of  remark,  that  here 
was  a  fool  who  followed  the  North  Cork,  and  who,  when 
he  saw  the  major  fall,  ran  to  the  body  and  embraced  it, 
then  took  the  major's  sword,  and  with  it  dispatched  two 
men  before  he  fell  himself.  The  insurgents  had  but  five 
men  killed,  and  two  wounded.  The  Shilmalier  cavalry, 
and  Colonel  Foote*  made  a  precipitate  retreat  to  Wex- 
ford. A  lar^0  par*y  of  the  Wexford  cavalry  also,  who 
had  no  sna*w  tvli^iever  in  the  action  were  involved  in 
this  retreat  Having  lodged  Mr  Jolcough  in  gaol,*  they 
set  out  on  another  excursion  to  Baliimurrin.  In  their 
course  they  shot  some  straggling  men,  and  burned  two 
houses  on  finding  two  men  killed  near  them.  They  were 
thus  employed  is  scouring  the  country  when  informed  of 
the  defeat  at  Oulart,  and  this  determined  them  without 
hesitation  to  retreat  with  all  speed  homewards. 

The  remainder  of  the  North  Cork  regiment  were  in- 
stantly under  arms  in  the  barracks,  when  informed  of  the 
defeat  of  that  part  of  their  body  which  had  gone  out  to 
action.  Burning  for  revenge  they  actually  marched  to 
the  bridge,  as  if  determined  to  proceed  and  meet  the 
insurgents ;  but  they  were  induced  to  return  by  some 
gentlemen  who  endeavoured  to  dissuade  them  from  so 
headlong  and  unsafe  an  undertaking. 

The  great  suspense  felt  by  the  inhabitants  of  Wexford, 


78 


HISTORY  OF  TOT 


during  the  whole  of  this  day,  on  account  of  so  sudden 
an  insurrection,  now  grew  into  serious  alarm,  such  as 
unexpected  news  like  this  must  inspire.  The  lamenta- 
tions of  the  unfortunate  widows  and  orphans  of  the  sol- 
diers who  had  fallen  in  the  encounter,  increased  the 
general  consternation.  These,  clapping^their  hands,  ran 
about  the  streets  quite  frantic,  mixing  their  piteous 
moanings  with  the  plaintive  cries  of  their  children,  and 
uttering  their  bitterest  maledictions  against  the  yeomen, 
whom  they  charged  with  having  run  away,  and  left  their 
husbands  to  destruction !  Letters  were  dispatched  to 
Duncannon  Fort  and  to  Waterford  with  these  disastrous 
accounts,  and  requesting  reinforcements. 

Those  of  the  North  Cork  militia  then  in  the  town, 
vowed  vengeance  against  the  prisoners  confined  in  the 
gaol,  particularly  against  Messrs. |Harvey,  Fitzgerald,  and 
Colclough,  so  lately  taken  up ;  and  so  explicitly  and 
without  reserve  were  these  intentions  manifested,  that  I 
myself  heard  a  sergeant  and  others  of  the  regiment  de- 
clare that  they  could  not  die  easy  if  they  should  not  have 
the  satisfaction  of  putting  the  prisoners  in  the  gaol  of 
Wexford  to  death,  particularly  the  three  gentlemen  last 
mentioned.  Nor  was  this  monstrous  design  harboured 
only  by  the  common  soldiers :  some  of  the  officers  de- 
clared the  same  intentions.  I  communicated  all  to  the 
gaoler,  who  informed  me  that  he  had  himself,  heard  the 
guards  on  the  gaol  express  their  hostile  intentions.  He 
was  so  alarmed  and  apprehensive  of  their  putting  their 
threats  into  execution,  that  he  contrived  means  to  get 
them  out,  then  locked  the  door,  and  determined  to 
defend  his  charge  at  the  risk  of  his  life.  He  then, 
with  a  humanity  and  presence  of  mind,  that  would  have 
become  a  better  station,  communicated  his  apprehensions 
to  all  the  prisoners,  whom  he  advised  to  remain  close  in 
their  cells,  so  as  to  avoid  being  shot  in  case  of  an  actual 
attack.  He  armed  the  three  gentlemen,  and  formed  so  judi- 
cious a  plan  of  defence,  that  in  the  event  of  their  being 
overpowered,  their  lives  could  not  be  had  at  a  cheap  rate. 
Of  this  scene  I  was  myself  an  eye-witness,  having  per- 
mission from  the  high  sheriff  to  pay  every  attention  to  my 
friend  and  relation,  Mr.  Fitzgerald.  The  Jatter  gentleman 
gave  me  his  watch,  pocket-book,  and  every  thing  valuabl* 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


79 


bout  him  ;  and  we  took  leave,  as  if  we  expected  neve? 
to  see  each  other  more.  Several  of  the  North  Cork 
came  to  the  gaol  door,  but  were  refused  admittance.  At 
last  a  party  of  them  came  with  a  woman,  or  one  who 
feigned  a  female  voice,  begging  admittance  ;  and  the 
door  being  opened,  the  soldiers  instantly  rushed  forward 
to  get  in,  but  were  prevented  by  a  half-door  that  remained 
still  shut.  The  whole  door  was  then  closed,  and  it 
jambed  in  a  soldier's  arm,  who  desisted  not  from  his  de- 
sign, until  his  bayonet,  with  which  he  attempted  to  stab 
the  gaoler  several  times,  was  wrested  from  him.  A  num- 
ber of  soldiers  went  round  the  gaol  several  times,  as  if  to 
reconnoitre,  and  were  overheard  threatening  the  prisoners 
with  certain  destruction,  if  they  could  but  get  in  :  and  I 
verily  believe  that,  had  it  not  been  for  the  indefatigable 
exertions  of  the  gaoler,  the  prisoners  would  have  been 
all  massacred ;  and  dreadful  it  is  to  think  what  conse- 
quences must  have  ensued !  The  alarms  of  the  three 
gentlemen  already  named  were  so  much  increased  by 
these  circumstances,  as  well  as  by  other  reports,  that 
they  made  every  disposition  of  their  properties,  as  if  on 
the  point  of  death. 

The  rising  of  the  people  in  the  county  of  Wexford, 
took  place  in  the  direction  from  Carnew  to  Oulart,  for 
fear,  as  they  alleged,  of  being  whipped,  burned,  or  exter- 
minated by  the  orangemen  ;  hearing  of  the  numbers  of 
people  that  were  put  to  death,  unarmed  and  unoffending, 
through  the  country — the  deliberate  massacre  and  shoot- 
ing of  eight  and  twenty  prisoners  in  the  ball-alley  of 
Carnew,  without  trial,  and  some  under  sentence  of  trans- 
portation, who  stopped  there  on  their  way  to  Geneva  ; 
among  these  was  a  Mr.  William  Young,  a  Protestant, 
who  was  ordered  to  be  transported  by  a  military  tribunal. 
At  Dunlavin,  thirty-four  men  were  shot  without  trial, 
and  among  them  the  informer  on  whose  evidence 
they  were  arrested.  Strange  to  tell,  officers  presided  to 
sanction  these  proceedings  1  A  man  escaped  by  feigning 
to  be  killed  ;  he  was  one  out  of  eighteen  of  the  corps  o( 
Captain  Saunders,  of  Saunders-grove,  Baltinglass.  These 
reports,  together  with  all  the  dreadful  accounts  from  the 
county  of  Kildare,  roused  their  minds  to  the  utmost  pitch 
of  alarm,  indignation,  and  fury.    They  were  forming 


HISTORY  OF  THB 


from  the  evening  of  the  26th  during  the  -whole  of  the 
night,  in  two  bodies.  One  assembled  on  Kilthomas-hill, 
agnnst  whom  marched  from  Carnew,  on  the  morning  of 
the  27th,  a  body  of  yeomen  cavalry  and  infautry  who 
proceeded  boldly  up  the  hill,  where  the  insurgents  pos- 
sessed a  strong  and  commanding  situation,  if  they  knew 
how  to  take  advantage  of  it ;  but  they  were  panic-struck, 
and  fled  at  the  approach  of  the  military,  who  pursued 
them  with  great  slaughter.  They  spared  no  man  they 
met,  and  burned  at  least  one  hundred  houses  in  the 
course  of  a  march  of  seven  miles. 

The  Rev.  Michael  Murphy  had  been  so  alarmed  on 
hearing  of  the  rising  of  the  people,  that  he  fled  into  the 
town  of  Gorey  early  on  Whitsunday  ;  on  his  arrival  not 
finding  Mr.  Kenny  with  whom  he  had  lodged  there,  he 
was  induced  to  return  for  him  and  his  family,  for  which 
purpose  not  being  able  to  procure  a  driver,  he  himself  led 
a  horse  and  car,  and  pursued  a  by-road  to  get,  if  possible, 
unobserved  into  Ballecanow,  by  which  means  he  did  not 
meet  some  yeomen  and  others  that  had  gone  on  the  high 
road  to  Gorey,  after  they  had  torn  up  the  altar,  broken 
the  windows,  and  otherwise  damaged  the  Roman  Catholic 
chapel ;  uttering  the  most  violent  threats  against  the  priest 
and  his  flock,  which  specimens  were  very  unlikely  to  re- 
move the  dreadful  reports  of  the  intended  extermination 
of  the  Catholics.  These  depredations  had  so  much 
weight  on  the  Rev.  Michael  Murphy  as  to  induce  him  to 
alter  his  original  intentions  not  to  fly  to  such  men  for 
protection,  and  he  then  was  led  on  by  the  multitude  to 
Kilthomas-hill ;  the  Rev.  John  Murphy  had  from  similar 
unforseen  occurrences  joined  the  insurgents.  These  two 
clergymen  had  been  remarkable  for  their  exhortations  and 
exertions  against  the  system  of  united  Irishmen,  until 
they  were  thus  whirled  into  this  political  vortex,  which, 
from  all  the  information  I  have  been  able  to  collect,  they 
undertook  under  the  apprehension  of  extermination. 

The  Rev.  John  Murphy  was  acting  coadjutor  of  the 
parish  of  Monageer ;  and  impressed  with  horror  at  the 
desolation  around  him,  took  up  arms  with  the  people, 
representing  to  them  that  they  had  better  die  coura- 
geously in  the  field,  than  to  be  butchered  in  their  house?. 
The  insurgents  in  this  quarter  now  began  their  career  by 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


imitating  the  example  that  had  been  set  before  them. 
They  commenced  burning  the  houses  of  those  who  were 
most  obnoxious  to  them.  Every  gentleman's  house  in 
the  country  was  summoned  to  surrender  their  arms.,  and 
where  any  resistance  was  offered,  the  house  was  attacked, 
plundered,  and  burnt,  and  most  of  the  inhabitants  killed 
in  the  conflict.  The  Camolin  cavalry  were  the  first  that 
attacked  these  insurgents  :  in  the  action  Lieutenant 
Bookey  and  some  privates  lost  their  lives — the  rest  re- 
treated to  Gorey.  On  the  27th  of  May,  Captain  Hawtrey 
White,  led  out  two  troops  of  horse  from  Gorey,  deter- 
mined to  revenge  the  death  of  their  companions.  They 
came  in  sight  of  the  insurgents  on  the  north  side  of  the 
hill  of  Oulart ;  but  they  appeared  in  such  force  that  they 
thought  it  not  prudent  to  attack  them,  but  returned  to 
Gorey,  burning  the  houses  of  suspected*  persons,  and 
putting  every  straggler. to  death  on  their  way.  Num- 
bers were  called  to  their  doors  and  shot,  while  many 
more  met  the  like  fate  within  their  house,  and  some 
even  that  were  asleep. 

Thus  it  appears  that  the  insurrection  broke  out  at  first 
in  a  line  from  west  to  east,  pretty  nearly  across  the 
middle  of  the  county,  unsupported  by  the  inhabitants 
either  north  or  south  of  that  direction.  These  were  the 
tracts  whose  natives  appeared  most  peaceably  inclined, 
and  who  thought  to  avoid  joining  in  the  insurrection. 
The  yeomanry  of  the  north  of  the  country  proceeded  on 
the  27th  against  a  quiet  and  defenceless  populace  ;  sallied 
forth  in  their  neighbourhoods,  burned  numbers  of  houses, 
and  put  to  death  hundreds  of  persons  who  were  unarmed, 
unoffending,  and  unresisting,  so  that  those  who  had  taken 
up  arms  had  the  greater  chance  of  escape  at  that  time. 
I  cannot  avoid  mentioning  a  circumstance,  though  not  a 
singular  one,  that  took  place  amidst  these  calamities, 
Mr.  William  Hore  of  Harperstown,  on  his  return  home 
from  Wexford,  was  induced  to  set  fire  to  the  house  of 
Mileo  Redmond  of  Harvey's  Town,  a  lime  burner.  This 
occasioned  his  subsequent  confinement,  and  afterwards 
his  death  on  the  bridge  of  Wexford.  He  had  offered  to 
b-.  ild  him  a  better  house,  which  Mrs.  Hore,  hi^  widow, 
notwithstanding  her  irretrievable  loss,  has  since  actu- 
ally performed. 


HISTORY  OF  TKB 


Such  was  the  state  of  the  northern  part  »f  the  county 
which  continued,  during  the  whole  of  Whitsunday,  igno* 
rant  of  the  state  of  the  south. 

On  the  evening  of  the  26th,  Captain  John  Grogan, 
perceiving,  from  a  height  near  his  house,  several  house 
on  fire  between  Enniscorthy  and  Oulart,  assembled  as 
many  of  his  yeomen  as  he  could  muster,  and  proceeded 
with  them  to  Enniscorthy,  whence  he  accompanied  Cap- 
tain Solomon  Richards,  of  the  Enniscorthy  cavalry,  ta 
meet  the  insurgents,  who  were  committing  great  devas- 
tation throughout  the  country,  in  retaliation,  as  they  al- 
leged, for  what  they  had  previously  suffered.  In  fact, 
there  seemed  to  exist  between  the  parties  an  emulation 
of  enmity,  as  they  endeavoured  to  outdo  each  other  in 
mischief,  by  burning  and  destroying  on  both  sides  those 
whom  they  deemed  their  enemies.  The  Roman  Catholic 
chapel  of  Roolevogue  was  burnt,  as  was  the  house  of  the 
Rev.  John  Murphy,  already  mentioned ;  and  several 
houses  were  set  on  fire  and  some  of  the  inhabitants  con- 
sumed within  them :  no  man  that  was  seen  in  coloured 
clothes  escaped  the  fury  of  the  yeomanry.  In  and  about 
Ferns,  a  party  of  the  North  Cork  militia  and  some  yeo- 
men pursued  the  like  conduct,  as  well  as  in  the  course  of 
heir  retreat  from  thence  to  Enniscorthy,  where  they 
arrived  on  the  morning  of  the  27th.  The  Shilmalier 
infantry,  commanded  by  the  Right  Hon.  George  Ogle, 
were  then  in  Enniscorthy  also.  They  took  an  excursion 
to  Darby  Gap,  and  on  their  return  they  marched  home. 
Captain  John  Grogan  escorted  Sergeant  Stanley  as  far  as 
Waterford,  on  his  way  to  Cork  as  judge  of  assize.  The 
town  of  Enniscorthy  Avas  crowded  by  great  numbers  ot 
people  who  fled  into  it  from  the  country — Catholics  among 
the  rest.  Some  of  the  latter  were  put  into  confinement 
in  the  castle,  notwithstanding  the  deplorable  evils  of 
which  that  impolitic  system  had  been  already  produc- 
tive ;  and  although  it  must  be  naturally  imagined,  that  a 
greater  proof  could  not  be  given  of  not  wishing  to  join 
»he  insurgents  than  that  of  flying  into  the  town  tog 
lefuge. 

On  Monday  morning,  the  28th  of  May,  every  prepara- 
tion was  made  for  defence,  and  every  precaution  observed 
ift  the  town.  Part  of  the  North  Cork  militia,  commanded 


IRISH  REBELLION". 


by  Captain  Snowe,  Captain  Cornock,  and  Capt  in  Pout*, 
den's  infantry  corps,  with  their  supernumeraries  and  the 
Enniscorthy  cavalry,  commanded  by  Captain  Richards, 
(the  whole  military  force  in  the  town,)  were  on  the  alert, 
and  under  arms,  in  expectation  of  an  immediate  attack. 
Many  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  offered  their  services, 
and  armed  themselves  as  well  as  they  could  to  contribute 
to  the  general  defence.  Some  of  the  most  respectable 
were  permitted  to  join  the  troops  ;  but  most  of  those  who 
had  offered  their  assistance  were,  during  the  battle,  or- 
dered to  ground  their  arms  and  retire  into  their  houses, 
out  of  which  they  were  peremptorily  warned  not  to  stir 
on  pain  of  death.  Good  God  !  what  miserable  policy  in 
such  times,  to  brand  them  as  Catholics  with  disaffection, 
when  their  actions  bespoke  so  much  the  contrary,  and 
thus  to  force  them  into  the  ranks  of  the  insurgents ! 
After  the  battle  of  Oulart  the  insurgents  encamped  for 
the  night  at  Carrigrew,  from  whence  they  set  out  at 
seven  o'clock  on  Monday  morning,  the  28th,  to  Camolin, 
from  thence  to  Ferns,  where  meeting  with  no  interrup- 
tion, or  any  military  force  to  oppose  them,  they  crossed 
the  Slaney  by  the  bridge  at  Scarawalsh,  halted  for  some 
time  on  the  hill  of  Ballioril,  and  from  thence  they  proceed- 
ed to  attack  Enniscorthy,  where  they  arrived  about  one 
o'clock,  driving  before  them  a  great  number  of  cattle 
(rith  a  view  of  overpowering  the  yeoman  infantry  that 
had  proceeded  to  the  Duffrey-gate,  where  the  attack 
commenced.  The  assailants  posting  themselves  behind 
the  ditches  that  enclose  the  town-parks,  kept  up  a  severe 
but  irregular  ixe  of  musketry,  intermixed  with  pike- 
men,  who  were  twice  charged  by  the  Enniscorthy  cavalry 
along  the  two  roads  leading  into  the  town,  with  little  or 
no  effect.  The  battle  lasted  with  various  success  lor  four 
hours.  Captain  Snowe  not  considering  it  prudent  to  quit 
his  situation  on  the  bridge  to  support  the  yeomen  at  the 
Duffrey-gate,  who  then  fell  down  by  degrees  into  the 
town,  leaving  the  suburbs,  composed  of  thatched  houses, 
unprotected,  which  then  were  set  fire  to,  (each  party  ac- 
cusing the'  other  for  doing  so,)  and,  as  it  turned  out; 
nothing  could  be  more  conducive  to  the  success  of  the 
insurgents.  During  the  confusion  the  conflagrations  oc- 
casioned, from  which  each  party  retreated,  the  iniiitaJT' 


taking  their  station  in  the  town  :  had  they  marched  out 
to  meet  the  insurgents,  and  given  them  Dattle  whex$ 
they  might  have  the  advantage  of  the  ditches,  their  su- 
periority in  discipline  and  fire-arms  might  have  enabled 
them  to  break  and  dissipate  the  tumultuary  body  opposed 
to  them,  that  had  every  advantage  over  those  placed  in 
a  hollow.  The  insurgents  made  an  attempt  to  cross  the 
river  at  the  island  above  the  bridge,  from  whence  they 
were  so  galled  as  to  oblige  them  to  wade  through  the 
Slaney  higher  up  at  Blackstoops,  some  were  proceeding 
to  Vinegar  Hill,  which,  from  its  commanding  situation 
immediately  above  the  town,  gave  them  every  advantage 
of  observation,  whilst  their  numbers  afforded  a  suffi- 
ciency to  attack  the  town  on  all  sides.  The  military 
were  at  length  overpowered  by  the  impetuosity  and  in- 
trepidity of  the  insurgents,  many  of  whom  fell  in  the 
gallant  defence  made  against  them  ;  but  the  soldiers 
having  no  cannon  to  support  them,  and  the  suburbs  of 
the  town  being  on  fire  in  several  places,  they  at  last 
sounded  a  retreat.  Whilst  the  town  was  thus  circum- 
stanced, a  proposal  was  made  to  Captain  Snowe  to  put 
the  prisoners  to  death  before  the  evacuation  of  the  place  ; 
but  he,  like  a  truly  brave  man,  would  not  listen  to  such 
a  diabolical  proposal,  and  rejected  it  with  acorn  and  ab- 
horrence :  notwithstanding  which  a  party  went  to  the 
castle,  determined  to  put  all  confined  therein  to  death. 
An  ineffectual  attempt  was  made  to  break  open  the  door, 
the  keeper  having  forgot  to  leave  the  key,  with  which  he 
had  set  otf  towards  Wexford  ;  and  this  circumstance  pro- 
videntially saved  the  lives  of  the  prisoners,  as  it  became 
too  dangerous  for  the  yeomen  to  wait  any  longer  to  put 
their  threats  into  execution — threats  which  they  con- 
stantly repeated  the  whole  of  that  morning  while  they 
stood  guard  over  their  prisoners.  Indeed,  so  assured 
were  the  prisoners  themselves  of  being  put  to  death,  that 
they  had  continued  for  hours  on  their  knees  at  prayer  in 
preparation  for  that  awful  event,  when  the  victors  re- 
leased them  from  confinement.  Captain  John  Pounden 
of  the  Enniscorthy  supplementary  infantry,  Lieutenant 
Hunt  of  the  Enniscorthy  yeomen,  and  Lieutenant  Car- 
den  of  the  Scarawalsh  infantry,  with  about  eighty  of  the 
military,  and  *ome  supplementary  men,  fell  in  tliii 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


action.  A  regular  retreat  being:  sounded,  gave  the  mili- 
tary an  opportunity  of  bringing  away  their  families  and 
friends,  together  with  a  great  many  men,  women,  and 
children,  who  proceeded  in  the  best  manner  they  could 
to  Wexford.  The  only  opinion  prevailing  in  the  latter 
town  for  some  hours  was,  that  Enniscorthy  and  all  its 
inhabitants  were  totally  destroyed.  This  was  occasioned 
by  the  arrival  in  Wexford  of  Lieutenant  Archibald  Ha. 
milton  Jacob,  and  a  private  of  the  Enniscorthy  cavalry, 
who  had  been  so  fortunate  as  to  effect  their  escape,  and 
who  came  in  with  their  horses  all  in  a  foam,  so  as  to  be- 
speak the  most  precipitate  flight.  At  the  same  time  tre- 
mendous clouds  of  smoke  were  observed  over  Enniscor- 
thy, which  is  distant  only  eleven  miles  from  Wexford, 
and  no  news  arriving  foi  several  hours,  left  room  for 
no  other  conjecture,  but  seemed  to  confirm  the  account 
given  by  these  fugitives.  The  military  in  their  retreat 
were  very  confused  at  first,  however  self-preservation 
urged  their  keeping  together,  suggested  b/  a  private  in 
the  yeomanry.  Officers  had  been  induced  to  tear  ofY  their 
epaulets  and  every  other  mark  that  could  distinguish 
them  from  the  privates,  considering  themselves  in  more 
danger  if  they  were  recognised  as  officers.  However, 
not  being  attacked,  there  was  sufficient  leisure  to  escort 
those  that  accompanied  them,  and  who  were  in  such  a 
piteous  plight  as  to  excite  on  their  arrival  the  hearty 
commiseration  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  Wexford,  who 
invited  them  indiscriminately  to  their  houses,  and  sup- 
plied them  with  every  comfort  and  necessary  in  their 
power,  and  of  which  they  stood  so  much  in  need.  How 
distressing  must  be  the  situation  of  man}'  ladies  who 
were  glad  to  get  up  behind^  or  before  any  person  that 
might  be  tender  enough,  in  the  general  consternation,  to 
take  them  on  horseback  !  Some  had  their  clothes  scorched 
about  them,  others  wanted  their  shoes  and  other  parts  of 
their  dress,  which  had  been  lost  or  torn  off;  besides  the 
great  heat  of  the  day  made  it  doubly  distressing  to  deli- 
cate females,  many  of  whom  had  the  additional  charge 
of  the  burden  and  care  of  their  children.  It  was  very 
deplorable  to  observe  the  anguish  ana  misery  of  these  fu- 
gitives, so  suddenly  and  violently  torn  from  their  homes 


86 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


and  family  endearments  ;  while  each  in  melancholy  deta/ 
dwelt  upon  the  relation  of  private  calamity. 

Great  as  the  apprehensions  of  the  inhabitants  ot  Wex 
ford  had  been  before,  they  were  much  heightened  by  the 
mournful  appearances  and  heart-rending  recitals  of  these 
unhappy  sufferers.  All  dreaded  that  their  houses,  their 
properties,  and  themselves,  should  share  the  fate  of 
Enniscorthy  and  its  inhabitants.  At  this  critical  period, 
the  Shilmalier  infantry,  commanded  by  the  Right  Hon. 
George  Ogle,  marched  from  their  homes  into  Wexford. 
Every  possible  preparation  was  now  mad*  for  defence. 
The  several  avenues  leading  into  the  town  were  barricad- 
ed,  and  cannon  were  placed  at  the  different  entrances.  The 
inhabitants  universally  manifested  a  zeal  to  defend  their 
habitations,  their  properties,  and  their  families,  against 
the  insurgents  ;  and  numbers  offered  themselves  for  the 
ranks,  and  to  perform  military  duty.  Upwards  of  two 
hundred  were  consequently  embodied,  there  being  arms 
for  no  more,  under  the  command  of  gentlemen  who  had 
been  in  the  army,  and  officers  of  the  militia  then  in  the 
town  on  leave  of  absence.  These  occasional  soldiers 
mounted  guard  in  the  same  manner  with  the  more  regu- 
lar troops  of  militia  and  yeomen  ;  and  every  precaution 
was  taken  to  guard  against  a  nocturnal  surprise,  which 
was  strongly  apprehended.  The  gentlemen  confined  in 
the  gaol  were  visited  by  numbers  of  those  in  town,  who 
entreated  Messrs.  Harvey  and  Colclough,  to  write  to  their 
tenants  and  neighbours,  to  induce  them  to  remain  quiet 
at  their  homes,  and  to  avoid  joining  the  insurgents  from 
the  other  side  of  the  Slaney.  This  the  gentlemen  readily 
complied  with,  in  the  presence  of  those  who  besought 
them,  urging  it  in  the  most  strenuous  and  persuasive 
terms  they  could  ;  and  messengers  were  accordingly  dis- 
patched to  every  person,  who,  it  was  suggested  to  them, 
possessed  influence  enough  for  the  purpose,  or  who  was 
imagined  capable  of  contributing  to  keep  the  inhabitants 
of  the  baronies  of  Forth  and  Bargy  from  rising. 

On  the  morning  of  the  29th,  the  dispositions  for  the 
defence  of  the  town  were  continued  with  unabating  vi- 
gour. Two  hundred  men  of  the  Donegal  militia,  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Maxwell,  with  a  six-pounder,  marched 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


67 


fa  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  were  "billeted 
throughout  the  town  to  get  refreshment,  of  which  they 
stood  in  great  need,  having  marched  all  night  from  Dun- 
cannon  Fort,  accompanied  by  the  Healthfield  cavalry, 
commanded  by  Captain  John  Grogan.  This  gentleman 
having  escorted  Sergeant  Stanley  to  Waterford,  returned 
to  Duncannon  Fort,  where  he  met  General  Fawcett, 
whose  determination  he  now  announced  of  coming  to  the 
assistance  of  Wexford  with  an  additional  force  as  soon  a3 
possible.  With  this  detachment  also  arrived  Colonel 
Colville,  Captain  Young,  and  Lieutenant  Soden,  officers 
of  the  thirteenth  regiment,  giving  the  glad  tidings  of  the 
approach  of  their  body  with  General  Fawcett,  and  the 
Heath  militia.  A  gentleman  was,  however,  despatched 
to  the  general,  to  urge  in  the  most  pressing  terms  the 
immediate  necessity  of  the  reinforcement.  The  Taghmou 
cavalry,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Cox,  arrived  in 
town  in  the  course  of  the  day.  The  apprehensions  of 
the  inhabitants  increased  every  moment.  Every  boat  in 
the  harbour  was  busily  employed  in  the  conveyance  of 
women  and  children,  with  the  most  valuable  effects,  on 
board  ships,  which  now  were  in  great  requisition,  occa- 
casioned  by  the  vast  numbers  of  people  who  crowded 
these  vessels,  in  order  to  escape  from  the  town,  which  it 
was  dreaded  would  be  burnt.  To  guard  against  such  a 
disastrous  event,  all  the  fires  of  the  town  were  strictly 
ordered  to  be  put  out  at  different  intervals  ;  and  during 
the  prohibited  time,  even  the  bakers  were  not  allowed  to 
boat  their  ovens.  A  further  measure  of  precaution 
adopted  on  tins  occasion  was,  that  of  stripping  all  the 
thatched  houses  within  the  walls  of  the  town,  which  last, 
by-the-bye,  were  still  standing  in  full  preservation,  ex- 
cept the  gateways,  that  had  been  long  broken  down  for 
the  public  convenience,  but  were  now  strongly  barri- 
caded. In  short,  the  utmost  activity  prevailed  for  pur- 
poses of  defence.  The  guards  were  augmented,  and  pa- 
trols of  cavalry  were  constantly  sent  out  to  reconnoitre. 
The  widows  of  those  of  the  Xorth  Cork  militia  u  ho  had 
fallen  in  the  action  at  Oulart,  still  continued  inconsola- 
ble about  the  town,  uttering  their  piteous  lamentations. 
The  bodies  of  the  officers  who  were  slain  on  that  occa- 
sion were  this  day  brought  in  by  Major  Lombard's 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


Tant,  who  had  gone  out  for  that  purpose  ;  and  t'Ms  con* 
treated  not  a  little  to  dispirit  the  military  in  the  town. 

Some  of  my  friends  then  in  Wexford  intimatea  to  me 
that  it  seemed  to  be  the  general  wish  of  all  the  gentle- 
men in  the  place  that  I  should  go  out  to  the  people,  and 
endeavour  to  induce  them  to  disperse — my  great  popu- 
larity and  family  influence,  it  was  suggested,  pointing  me 
out  as  the  fittest  person  to  undertake  such  a  mission  ; 
which,  from  these  circumstances  it  was  hoped  might 
prove  successful.  My  answer  was,  that  I  would  not  re- 
fuse to  do  any  thing  that  was  imagined  to  be  for  the 
general  good,  although  I  thought  the  experiment  most 
hazardous,  provided  a  magistrate  whose  honour  might 
be  depended  on  would  accompany  me ;  besides,  that  I 
should  have  my  directions  in  writing,  a  copy  whereof  1 
would  leave  with  my  friends,  in  order  that  if  I  should 
fall  in  the  enterprise,  nothing  might  be  left  in  the  power 
of  misrepresentation  to  state  to  my  dishonour.  No  ma- 
gistrate being  found,  as  I  suppose,  that  would  venture 
on  this  dangerous  service,  it  was  then  inquired  whether 
the  liberation  of  Messrs.  Harvey,  Fitzgerald,  and  Col- 
clough,  might  not  appease  the  people  ?  On  this  ques- 
tion I  declared  myself  incompetent  to  decide.  I  was 
then  asked,  whether  if  enlarged  on  bail,  but  particularly 
Mr.  Eitzgerald,  whose  residence  lay  in  the  country  then 
disturbed,  they  would  undertake  to  go  out  to  the  insur- 
gents and  endeavour  to  prevail  on  them  to  disperse  ?  On 
this  inquiry  my  opinion  was,  that  as  the  lives  of  these 
gentlemen  were  in  danger  from  the  fury  of  the  soldiery 
while  they  continued  in  prison,  I  thought  they  would 
comply  with  this  requisition.  The  matter  now  became 
public,  and  the  prisoners  were  accordingly  visited  by  the 
roost  respectable  gentlemen  in  the  town  ;  several  request- 
ing of  me  to  accompany  them  to  the  prison,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  introduction.  Indeed,  so  marked  was  the  atten- 
tion paid  to  them  on  this  occasion,  that  an  indifferent 
spectator  would  be  led  to  consider  them  rather  as  the 
governors  of  the  town,  than  as  prisoners.  On  the  28th 
and  29th,  I  had  many  conversations  on  this  subject  with 
the  officers  and  gentlemen  of  the  place ;  and  at  length  1 
was  myself,  together  with  five  other  gentlemen,  (two  for 
each  of  the  three  prisoners,)  bound  in  five  hundred 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


60 


pounds  severally:  and  Messrs  Harvey,  Fitzgerald,  and 
Colclough  themselves  individually  in  one  thousand 
pounds  security  for  their  appearance  at  the  next  assizes. 
It  was  further  conditioned,  that  although  they  were  all 
three  bailed,  two  only  should  be  at  large  at  any  one 
time  ;  but  that  they  might  take  their  turns  of  going 
abroad  interchangeably  at  their  discretion,  provided  one 
should  always  remain  in  gaol  as  a  guarantee  for  the  re- 
turn of  the  rest.  This  compact  was  entered  into  with 
Captain  Boyd  particularly.  Mr.  Harvey  was  then  fixed 
on  to  remain,  and  Messrs.  Fitzgerald  and  Colclough  were 
immediately  liberated,  and  sent  out  to  endeavour  to 
prevail  on  the  people  to  disperse.  They  were  escorted 
from  the  gaol  by  several  gentlemen,  who  conducted  them 
beyond  the  outposts;  and  then  a  yeoman  was  sent  to 
attend  them  till  they  passed  the  patrols,  and  so  they  set 
off  towards  Enniscorthy. 

The  entire  military  force  at  this  time  in  Wexford  con- 
sisted of  three  hundred  of  the  North  Cork  militia,  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Foote ;  two  hundred  of  the  Donegal 
militia,  under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Maxwell ;  five 
troops  of  yeoman  cavalry,  viz.  those  of  Wexford,  com- 
manded by  Captain  Boyd ;  the  Enniscorthy,  by  Captain 
Richards;  the  Taghmon,  by  Captain  Cox;  the  Health- 
field,  by  Captain  John  Grogan ;  and  the  Shilmalier,  by 
Colonel  Le  Hunte ;  the  infantry  yeomen  were  those  of 
Wexford,  under  Captain  Jacob,  M.D.  ;  the  Enniscorthy, 
under  Captain  Pounden  ;  the  Scarawalsh,  under  Captain 
Cornock;  and  the  Shilmalier,  under  the  Right  Hon. 
George  Ogle,  with  their  supplementary  men,  altogether 
as  many  as  their  original  number,  and  two  hundred  of 
the  townsmen,  amounting  on  the  whole  to  twelve  hun- 
dred men  under  arms ;  who,  as  the  town- wail  was  in 
good  condition,  might  defy  as  many  thousand  assailants, 
not  supported  by  a  great  superiority  of  ordnance.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  state  who  held  the  chief  command 
then  in  Wexford ;  but  Colonel  Watson,  (formerly  lieu- 
tenant-colonel in  the  army,)  who  now  filled  the  rank  of 
sergeant  in  the  Shilmalier  cavalry,  seemea  to  take  the 
lead  more  than  Miy  other  person  in  the  place  in  station- 
ing the  different  posts ;  and  really,  from  the  ability  he 
displayed,  seemed  the  fittest  of  all  present  to  be  entrusted 


90 


HISTORY   OF  THS 


with  the  direction  of  affairs,  having  left  nothing  undone, 
as  far  as  the  exigency  of  the  moment  would  allow,  to  pui 
the  town  in  as  complete  a  state  of  defence  as  possible. 

The  insurgents,  after  having  taken  Enniscorthy  on  the 
28th,  encamped  that  evening  on  Vinegar  Hill.  Several 
parties  were  dispatched  from  thence  during  the  night,  to 
bring  in  all  the  respectable  persons  remaining  in  the 
county,  with  menaces  of  death  in  case  of  refusal;  their 
recent  successes  having  rendered  them  altogether  impe 
rious.  One  party  was  particularly  directed  to  Newcastle 
for  Mr.  John  Hay,  in  whose  professional  talents  they 
placed  great  confidence,  as  he  had  been  an  officer  in  the 
French  service.  On  being  summoned  out  of  his  bed  to 
come  to  camp,  he  endeavoured  to  expostulate,  but  all  in 
vain  ;  and  at  last,  he  absolutely  refused  going,  notwith- 
standing the  most  violent  threats  uttered  against  him. 
At  length,  however,  menaces  proceeded  to  such  extre- 
mity, that  his  house  should  be  set  on  fire,  and  he  and  his 
family  consumed  within  it ;  and  preparations  were  in- 
stantly making  to  put  their  threats  in  actual  execution, 
when  turning  with  looks  of  anguish  and  despair  towards 
his  wife  and  daughter,  whom  he  loved  most  passionately, 
with  the  tenderest  emotions  he  surrendered  his  judgment 
for  their  safety,  and  was  led  to  Vinegar  Hill,  where  he 
met  several  who  had  been  summoned  thither  out  of  their 
beds  as  unexpectedly  as  himself ;  for  as  the  military  had 
abandoned  the  whole  country,  the  insurgents,  who  were 
now  the  generality  of  the  people,  had  every  one  who  re- 
mained under  uncontrollable  command.  Mr.  John  Hay. 
finding  upon  inquiry,  that  the  multitude  had  no  ammu- 
nition, no  warlike  stores,  nor  any  degree  of  preparation, 
strongly  remonstrated  on  their  defenceless  situation,  re- 
presenting that  they  could  not  possibly  stand  against  a 
regularly  appointed  military  force,  as  any  soldiery  know- 
ing their  duty  must  cut  them  to  pieces.  Various  and 
confused  were  the  consultations  that  ensued  in  this 
tumultuous  asse  mblage.  It  was  at  once  proposed,  by 
different  persons  to  attack  Ross,  Newtownbarry,  and 
Gorey,  as  each  lay  more  contiguous  to  their  several 
homes,  for  Wexford  was  then  considered  too  formiuabie 
to  be  at  all  attempted ;  while  others  laboured  to  persuade 
the  whole  body  tn  proceed  to  their  respective  neighbour- 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


hoods,  to  prefect  them  from  the  ravages  of  the  military  ; 
ind  each  party  persisted  so  obstinately  in  their  several 
determinations,  as  not  to  yield  or  listen  to  any  reason* 
ing  from  another  side,  in  opposition  to  their  favounU 
opinions:  no  kind  of  concert,  no  unity  of  design,  no 
sort  of  ..discipline  or  organization  appearing  to  iniluence 
their  councils  or  their  conduct  ;  which  distraction  suf- 
ficiently indicates  that  no  pre-concerted  or  any  digested 
plan  of  insurrection  existed  in  the  county,  previous  to  the 
rising — for  in  such  case,  the  populace  would  have  been 
rendered,  in  some,  degree,  at  least,  subordinate  to  some 
constituted* authority  ;  whereas  they  now  acted,  even 
after  considerable  successes,  not  obedient  to  any  control, 
but  with  the  greatest  anarchy,  violence,  and  confusion. 
In  "fine,  each  individual  dreaded  the  devastation  of  his 
house  or  his  property;  most  of  the  multitude  was  dis- 
persed, and  on  their  way  to  their  several  homes,  in  a!i 
directions  from  Vinegar  Hill,  when  some  of  them  met 
Messrs.  Fitzgerald  and  Colclough  (whose  arrests  were 
publicly  known,)  near  the  village  of  St.  John's,  and  find- 
ing them  liberated  and  sent  out  to  them,  they  were 
immediately  welcomed  by  a  general  shout,  which  com- 
municating from  one  to  another,  like  electricity,  was 
re-echoed  all  the  way  to  Enniscorthy,  and  so  on  to  the 
top  of  Vinegar  Hill,  and  thence  through  all  the  county 
round.  The  reverberation  of  the  shouts  thus  widely 
diffused,  arrested  the  attention  of  the  astouished  multi- 
tude, who  instantly  returned  to  discover  the  cause  of 
such  sudderwexultation ;  so  that  when  the  deputed  gen- 
tlemen arrived  on  Vinegar  Hill,  the  camp,  so  deserted 
but  a  moment  before,  now  became  as  thronged  as  ever. 
Were  it  not  sufficiently  established  by  the  universal 
acknowledgment  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  county  of 
Wexford,  officers  and  men,  who  bore  a  part  in  this  in- 
surrection, that  there  was  no  concert  between  this  rising 
and  the  plan  of  a  general  insurrection  in  and  about 
Dublin  ;  and  that  it  was  no  more  than  a  tumultuary  and 
momentary  exertion  of  popular  resistance  to  a  state  of 
things,  found  or  considered  unsupportable,  the  sole  ob- 
ject of  which  was  an  attempt  to  get  rid  of  oppressions, 
and  to  retaliate  with  equal  violence,  what  they  had  been 
for  some  time  experiencirg ;  this  inclination  of  each  man, 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


and  every  body  of  men,  to  return  home,  and  apply  the 
general  force  to  the  correction  of  their  individual  suffer- 
ings, would  furnish  a  strong  proof  of  the  fact ;  as  other- 
wise the  idea  of  some  general  system,  however  confused, 
would  be  floating  in  their  imagination,  and  it  is  the  con- 
firmed opinion  of  most  impartial  people,  that  I  have 
heard  discuss  the  subject,  that  the  insurrection  in  the 
county  of  Wexford  must  have  subsided  at  that  period, 
but  for  this  intelligence  extraordinary  from  the  town  by 
the  deputation  of  the  prisoners,  who  of  necessity  informed 
the  people,  that  they  had  been  liberated,  and  sent  out 
for  the  express  purpose  of  remonstrating  with  them  ;  for 
this  served  only  to  concentrate  their  wavering  opinions, 
and  to  point  to  some  object  their  previously  fluctuating 
determinations.  It  was  but  the  resolution  of  a  moment 
to  march  in  a  body  to  attack  Wexford.  Mr.  Fitzgerald 
they  detained  in  the  camp,  and  Mr.  Colclough  they  sent 
back  to  announce  their  hostile  intentions. 

Mr.  Colclough  arrived  in  Wexford  early  in  the  even- 
ting, and  waited  in  the  bull-ring  (a  small  square  in  the 
town  so  denominated)  until  the  officers  and  other  gentle 
men  in  the  place  had  there  assembled,  when  he  informed 
them  in  a  very  audible  voice,  from  on  horseback,  that 
having  gone  out,  according  to  their  directions,  to  the  in- 
surgents on  Vinegar  Hill,  he  found,  as  he  had  already 
suggested  before  his  departure,  that  he  possessed  no  in- 
fluence with  the  people,  who  had  ordered  him  to  return 
and  announce  their  determination  of  marching  to  the 
attack  of  Wexford  ;  adding,  that  they  had  detained  Mr. 
Fitzgerald.  Mr.  Colclough  then  requested  to  be  in- 
formed if  it  was  intended  to  make  further  trial  of  his  ser- 
vices, or  to  require  his  longer  attendance,  as  otherwise 
they  must  be  sensible  how  eager  he  must  be  to  relieve 
\he  anxiety  of  his  family  by  his  presence.  He  was  then 
untreated  to  endeavour  to  maintain  tranquillity  in  his 
own  neighbourhood,  which  having  promised  to  do  as 
I3i uch  as  in  his  power,  he  called  at  the  gaol  to  visit  Mr. 
Harvey,  with  whom  he  agreed  (according  to  the  compact 
with  Captain  Boyd)  to  return  next  day  and  take  his 
ilace  in  the  gaol,  and  then  set  off  through  the  barony  of 
Forth  to  his  own  dwelling  at  Ballyteigue,  distant  about 
tea  miles  from  Wexford. 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


If  any  thing  could  add  to  the  general  consternation  in 
Wexford,  it  was  to  learn  the  determination  of  the  insur- 
gents to  come  to  attack  the  town.  Ships  became  in 
greater  requisition  than  ever,  and  ail  the  vessels  in  the 
harbour  were  stowed  with  amazing  numbers  ;  the  streets 
were  quite  deserted,  and  the  shops  and  lower  windows 
of  all  the  houses  were  shut  up.  Late  in  the  evening:  as 
two  of  the  Taghmod  yeomanry  were  going  home,  and  h;id 
proceeded  as  far  as  Areandrish,  about  four  miles  from 
Wexford,  they  descried  the  advanced  guard  of  the  insur- 
gents ;  with  which  intelligence  they  immediately  posted 
back  with  all  speed  to  the  town,  which  was  already  in 
expectation  of  being  attacked  every  instant.  Every 
degreeof  vigilance  and  precaution  was  now  exerted,  and 
the  military  kept  on  the  alert  all  night.  The  portcullis 
on  the  remarkable  wooden- bridge  over  the  Sianey.  was 
hoisted,  whereby  the  greatest  part  of  it  was  left  defence- 
less, while  one  piece  of  cannon  would  have  perfectly  pro- 
tected the  whole  ;  and  this  mismanagement  became  the 
more  to  be  regretted  as,  about  break  of  day,  the  toil- 
house  on  the  country  side  on  the  end  of  it  was  discovered 
to  be  on  fire,  and  burned  with  great  furv,  the  materials 
being  of  deal ;  and  pitch  and  tar  had  been  spread  over 
the  entrance  of  the  bridge  to  increase  the  rapidity  of  the 
flames.  Some  boat-loads  of  sailors  from  the  harbour 
were  the  first  that  ventured  to  extinguish  the  fire,  hav- 
ing taken  their  buckets  for  the  purpose.  These  found 
the  place  deserted,  as  the  business  had  been  executed  by 
a  party  of  about  twelve  insurgents,  who  fled  at  their  ap- 
proach. The  sharp  smoke  from  the  burning  wood, 
drifted  by  the  wind  which  blew  right  along  the  bridge 
retarded  much  the  progress  of  some  yeomen,  who  at 
length  moved  towards  the  fire;  but  these,  leaving  the 
sailors  to  their  own  exertions,  made  a  cut  across  the 
bridge  at  some  distance  from  the  conflagration.  The 
fire,  however,  was  soon  put  out,  and  none  of  the  oak- 
beams,  that  principally  support  the  bridge  were  burnt 
through  ;  the  floor  and  railings  only,  which  were  of  deal, 
being  consumed.  The  cries  of  the  women  and  children 
throughout  the  town  were  so  dismal  and  alarming  as  to 
rouse  the,  military  from  their  beds,  when  they  had 
scarcely  time  to  have  fallen  asleep,  since  they  had  re- 


ft 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


tired  from  Iheir  several  posts,  to  which  they  w  ere  thm 
summoned  back  in  a  hurry  to  repel  the  attack  of  an 
enemy  which  was  every  moment  expected.  The  insur- 
gents were  now  encamped  on  the  Three-rocks— the  end 
of  the  low  ridge  of  the  mountain  of  Forth,  about  three 
miles  from  Wexford — and  did  not  seem  so  willing  to  ad- 
vance  as  was  apprehended  in  the  town. 

General  Fawcett  having  ordered  his  forces  to  follow, 
eet  out  alone  from  Duncannon  Fort  on  the  evening  of  the 
29th,  and  stopper  it  Taghmon,  where  he  lay  down  to 
rest,  until  his  advanced  guard  should  arrive.  Captain 
Adams  of  the  Meath  militia,  with  seventy  men  of  his 
regiment,  and  Lieutenant  Birch'  "  the  artillery,  with  two 
howitzers,  arrived  iroin  Duncanut>n  Fort  in  the  course  of 
the  night,  at  Taghm^  wnere  not  finding,  as  they  ex- 
pected, the  thirteenth  regiment,  or  Me*  \h  militia,  and  not 
knowing  any  thing  about  the  general,  after  a  short  halt 
they  marched  on  towards  Wexford,  apprehending  no  kind 
of  interruption.  They  had  already  ascended  the  road 
along  the  side  of  the  mountain  of  Forth,  when  perceived 
by  the  outposts  of  the  insurgents,  who  poured  down  upon 
them  with  such  rapidity,  that  they  were  in  a  few  minutes 
cut  off,  except  Ensign  Wade  and  sixteen  privates  who 
were  taken  prisoners.  The  magazine  was  blown  up  in 
the  conflict,  which  circumstance  rendered  the  howitzers 
not  so  great  a  prize  as  they  otherwise  would  have  been  to 
the  victors.  General  Fawcett,  on  getting  out  of  bed, 
having  learned  the  fate  of  his  advanced  guard,  ordered 
the  thirteenth  and  the  rest  of  the  troops  who  had  by  this 
time  come  up,  to  retreat  to  Duncannon  Fort,  whither  he 
also  set  off  in  great  haste  himself. 

From  Wexford,  in  the  course  of  the  morning,  vast 
crowds  of  people  were  observed  assembling  on  the  high 
ground  over  Ferry- bank,  at  the  country-side-  of  the 
wooden-bridge,  which  contributed  not  a  little  to  heighten 
the  alarm  already  prevailing  in  the  town.  The  different 
posts  on  the  town-wall  were  guarded  with  the  utmost  vigi- 
lance, and  entrusted  to  the  protection  of  the  yeomen 
infantry,  supplementaries,  and  armed  inhabitants,  white 
the  ISorth  Cork  militia  undertook  to  defend  the  barracks. 
It  was  expected  that  General  Fawcett,  now  supposed  on 
his  march  from  Taghmon  to  Wexford,  must  fail  in  witk 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


9t 


the  insurgents,  and  thus  keep  them  so  well  employed  on 
that  side  as  to  afford  a  favourable  opportunity  for  a  sally 
from  the  town  to  attack  them  on  the  other.  It  was,  there- 
fore, resolved  to  try  the  success  of  this  manoeuvre,  and 
accordingly,  Colonel  Maxwell,  with  two  hundred  of  the 
Donegal  militia,  and  Colonel  Watson,  with  the  Wexford, 
Enniscorthy,  Taghmon,  Healthfield,  and  Shilmalier  yeo- 
men cavalry,  marched  out  to  the  encounter.  They  had 
advanced  as  far  as  Belmont,  when  Colonel  Watson,  eager 
to  reconnoitre,  proceeded  up  the  hill  farther  than  pru- 
dence would  permit,  and  was  shot  from  one  of  the  out- 
posts of  the  insurgents.  The  Donegal  militia  then  re- 
treated to  Wexford,  preceded  by  the  cavalry,  who  pressed 
upon  them  very  much  along  the  road.  Immediately  after 
this  a  hasty  council  of  war  was  held,  at  which  it  was  de- 
termined to  evacuate  the  town. 

A  general  and  gloomy  consternation  now  prevailed  ; 
every  countenance  appeared  clouded  and  distrustful, 
and  every  person  was  cautious  and  circumspect  how  he 
spoke  or  acted,  as  all  confidence  was  entirely  done  away, 
and  each  individual  thought  only  of  his  own  personal 
safety.  Some  yeomen  and  supplementaries,  who  during 
the  whole  of  the  morning  had  been  stationed  in  the  street 
opposite  the  gaol,  were  heard  continually  to  threaten  to 
put  all  the  prisoners  to  death  ;  which  so  roused  the  atten- 
tion of  the  gaoler  to  protect  bis  charge,  that  he  barricaded 
the  door ;  and,  on  hearing  of  a  surrender,  to  manifest 
more  strongly  the  sincerity  of  his  intentions,  he  delivered 
up  the  key  to  Mr.  Harvey.  This  gentleman  was,  indeed, 
so  apprehensive  of  violence,  that  he  had  climbed  up  in- 
side a  chimney,  where  he  had  lain  concealed  a  consider- 
able time,  when  some  gentlemen  called  upon  him,  but 
could  not  gain  admittance  until  they  gave  the  strongest 
assurances  of  their  pacific  intentions.  Upon  being  ad- 
mitted at  length,  they  still  found  him  up  the  chimney, 
and  while  so  situated,  entreated  him  to  go  out  to  the  camp 
of  the  insurgents  and  announce  to  them  the  surrender  of 
the  town,  on  condition  that  lives  and  properties  should  be 
spared.  Mr.  Harvey  made  answer,  that  as  the  insur- 
gents on  the  Three-rocks  were  not  from  his  neighbour- 
hood, and  as  he  was  not  himself  at  all  known  to  them,  he 
imagined  he  would  have  no  kind  of  influence  with  them, 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


adding,  that  they  might  possibly  consider  him  even  as  au 
enemy.  He  was  then  requested  to  write  to  them,  which 
he  declared  himself  willing  to  do  in  any  manner  that 
might  be  judged  most  advisable.  When  he  had  thus 
consented,  it  became  a  task  of  no  little  difficulty  to  bring 
him  out  of  his  lurking-place,  as  in  the  descent  his  clothes 
were  gathered  up  about  his  shoulders,  so  that  it  required 
good  assistance  to  pull  him  out  of  the  chimney  by  the 
heels.  When  he  had  arranged  his  apparel,  and  adjusted 
himself  so  as  to  put  off  the  appearance  of  a  chimney- 
sweeper, about  two  hours  before  the  troops  retreated  from 
Wexford,  Right  Hon.  George  Ogle,  captain  of  the  Shil- 
malier  infantry;  Cornelius  Grogan ;  John  Grogan,  captain 
of  the  Healthfield  cavalry ;  James  Boyd,  captain  of  the 
Wexford  cavalry;  Solomon  Richards,  captain  of  the  Ennis- 
corthy  cavalry;  Isaac  Cornock,  captain  of  the  Searawalsh 
infantry,  and  Edward  Turner  of  the  Shilmalier  cavalry — 
all  magistrates — along  with  Lieutenant-colonel  Colville 
of  the  thirteenth  regiment  of  foot,  and  Lieutenant-colonel 
Foote,  of  the  North  Cork  militia,  visited  Mr.  Harvey  in 
the  gaol,  and  at  their  express  request,  he  wrote  the  fol- 
lowing notice  to  the  insurgents  on  the  mountain  of 
Forth: 

"  I  have  been  treated  in  prison  with  all  possible  huma- 
nity, and  am  now  at  liberty.  I  have  procured  the  liberty 
of  all  the  prisoners.  If  you  pretend  to  Christian  charity, 
do  not  commit  massacre,  or  burn  the  property  of  the 
inhabitants,  and  spare  your  prisoners'  lives. 

"  B.  B.  Harvey. 

"  Wednesday,  30th  May,  1798." 

This  note  was  undertaken  to  be  forwarded  by  

Doyle,  a  yeoman  of  the  Healthfield  cavalry,  who  offered 
to  volunteer  on  this  hazardous  service,  when  the  proposal 
V»Tas  made  to  his  corps  by  Captain  John  Grogan.  He 
had  the  precaution  to  put  off  his  uniform,  and  to  dress 
himself  in  coloured  clothes ;  but  when  ready  to  set  off 
he  was  discovered  to  be  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  therefore 
reflected  upon,  for  so  the  whisper  went  about  "how  could 
a  papist  be  trusted?"  The  yeoman  finding  his  zeal  meet 
with  a  reception  so  contrary  to  his  expectation,  again  put 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


on  his  uniform  and  retreated  with  his  captain ;  thus  prov- 
ing himself  to  the  full  as  loyal  as  any  of  those  who  on  the 
occasion  displayed  their  illiberality ;  which  even  com- 
mon policy,  it  might  be  well  imagined,  should  repress  at 
so  critical  a  juncture.  Doctor  Jacob  then  proposed  the 
enterprise  to  his  corps,  and  Counsellor  Richards  with  his 
brother  Mr.  Loftus  Richards,  were  appointed  to  go  out 
to  the  Three-rocks  on  this  expedition,  to  announce  the 
surrender  of  the  town,  to  the  insurgents,  whose  camp  they 
reached  in  safety,  though  clad  in  full  uniform.  Scarcely 
had  these  deputies  set  out  upon  their  mission,  when  all  the 
military  corps,  apart  of  one  only  excepted,  made  the  best 
of  their  way  out  of  the  town.  Every  individual  of  them 
seemed  to  partake  of  a  general  panic,  and  set  off  whither- 
soever they  imagined  they  could  find  safety,  without  even 
acquainting  their  neighbours  on  duty  of  their  intentions. 
The  principal  inhabitants  whose  services  had  been  ac- 
cepted of  for  the  defence  of  the  town  were  mostly  Catho- 
lics, and,  according  to  the  prevalent  system,  were  subject 
to  the  greatest  insults  and  reflections.  They  were  always 
placed  in  front  of  the  posts,  and  cautioned  to  behave  well, 
or  that  death  should  be  the  consequence.  Accordingly, 
persons  were  placed  behind  them  to  keep  them  to  their 
duty,  and  these  were  so  watchful  to  their  charge,  that 
they  would  not  even  permit  them  to  turn  about  their 
heads ;  and  yet  these  determined  heroes  were  the  very 
first  to  run  off  on  the  apprehended  approach  of  real  dan- 
ger. Thus  were  the  armed  inhabitants  left  at  their  posts, 
abandoned  by  their  officers,  and  actually  ignorant  of  the 
flight  of  the  soldiery,  until  the  latter  had  been  miles  out 
of  the  town,  and  were  therefore  left  no  possible  means  of 
retreating.  Lieutenant  William  Hughes  of  the  Wexford 
infantry,  with  a  few  of  his  corps,  was,  it  seems,  the  only 
part  of  the  military  left  uninformed  of  the  intended  re- 
treat, and  this  was  owing  to  his  being  detached  with  these 
few  yeomen  to  defend  a  distant  part  of  the  town-wall,  and 
he  and  they  were  apprised  of  their  situation,  as  were  also 
the  armed  inhabitants,  only  by  the  approach  of  the  insur- 
gents; so  that  Mr.  Hughes  and  his  few  yeomen,  together 
with  the  armed  inhabitants,  are  the  only  people  that  can 
be  said  not  to  have  abandoned  their  posts  in  Wexford 
on  this  occasion     The  confusion  and  dismay  which  pre- 


96 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


vailed  was  so  great,  as  no  kind  of  signal  for  retreat  had 
been  given,  that  officers  and  privates  ran  promiscuously 
through  the  town,  threw  off  their  uniforms,  and  hid  them- 
selves wherever  they  thought  they  could  behest  concealed. 
Some  ran  to  the  different  quays,  in  expectation  of  finding 
boats  to  convey  them  off,  and  threw  their  arms  and  am- 
munition into  the  water.  All  such  as  could  accomplish 
it  embarked  on  board  the  vessels  in  the  harbour,  having 
previously  turned  their  horses  loose.  Some  ran  to  the 
gaol  to  put  themselves  under  the  protection  of  Mr.  Har- 
vey. Officers,  magistrates,  and  yeomen  of  every  descrip- 
tion thus  severally  endeavoured  to  escape  popular  ven- 
geance ;  and  in  the  contrivance  of  changing  apparel,  as 
there  was  not  a  sufficiency  of  men's  clothes  at  hand  for 
all  those  who  sought  safety  by  this  means,  female  attire 
was  substituted  for  the  purpose  of  disguise.  In  short,  it 
is  impossible  that  a  greater  appearance  of  confusion, 
tumult,  or  panic  could  be  at  all  exhibited.  The  North 
Cork  regiment  on  quitting  the  barracks  set  them  on  fire, 
which,  however,  was  immediately  put  out.  Lieutenants 
Bowen  and  Paye,  with  Ensign  Harman,  and  some  Ser- 
jeants and  privates  of  this  regiment,  remained  in  the 
town 

It  has  been  already  observed,  that  thousands  of  people 
were  seen  to  assemble,  during  the  entire  morningv.  on  a 
hill  over  Ferry-bank,  marching  and  counter-marching 
in  hostile  appearance,  and  seemingly  waiting  only  for 
the  moment  that  the  town  would  be  abandoned  by 
the  military,  to  take  possession  of  it  themselves;  but 
their  entrance,  when  this  took  place,  was  retarded,  until 
boards  were  procured  to  supply  the  place  of  the  flooring 
of  the  wooden-bridge  where  it  had  been  burnt.  In  the 
meantime,  Messrs.  Richards,  after  having  run  great  risk, 
arrived  at  the  camp  at  Three-rocks,  and  making  known 
that  they  were  deputed  to  inform  the  people  that  the 
town  of  Wexford  would  be  surrendered  to  them  on  con- 
dition of  sparing  lives  and  properties;  these  terms  would 
not  be  complied  with,  unless  the  arms  and  ammunition  of 
the  garrison  were  also  surrendered.  Mr.  Loftus  Richards 
was  therefore  detained  as  a  hostage,  and  Counsellor 
Richards  and  Mr.  Fitzgerald  were  sent  back  to  the  town, 
to  settle  and  arrange  the  articles  of  capitulation ;  bun 


IRISH  REBELLION* 


99 


these  gentlemen  on  their  arrival,  to  their  great  astonish, 
meht,  found  the  place  abandoned  by  the  military.  The 
bridge  being  at  this  time  nearly  made  passable,  the  vast 
concourse  of  people  that  had  collected  at  the  other  side 
of  the  Slaney,  was  just  ready  to  pour  in  and  take  uncon- 
ditional possession  of  the  town.  It  was  therefore  neces- 
sary to  treat  with  these,  (it  being  yet  unknown  who  they 
were,)  in  order  to  prevent  the  mischiefs  likely  to  ensue 
from  such  a  tumultuary  influx  of  people.  Doctor  Jacob, 
then  mayor  of  the  town  and  captain  of  the  Wexford  in- 
fantry, therefore  entreated  Mr.  Fitzgerald  to  move  towards 
the  bridge,  and  announce  to  the  people  rushing  in  that 
the  town  was  surrendered;  and  to  use  every  other  argu- 
ment, that  his  prudence  might  suggest,  to  make  their 
entry  as  peaceable  as  possible.  Mr.  Fitzgerald  com- 
plied, and  instantly  after  this  communication  thousands 
of  people  poured  into  the  town  over  the  wooden-bridge, 
shouting  and  exhibiting  all  marks  of  extravagant  and 
victorious  exultation.  They  first  proceeded  to  the  gaol, 
released  all  the  prisoners,  and  insisted  that  Mr.  Harvey 
should  become  their  commander.  All  the  houses  in  tow  n 
not  abandoned  by  the  inhabitants  now  became  decorated 
with  green  boughs,  or  green  ornaments  of  one  description 
or  another.  The  doors  were  universally  thrown  open, 
and  the  most  liberal  offers  made  of  spirits  and  drink  of 
every  kind,  which,  however,  were  not  as  freely  accepted, 
until  the  persons  offering  had  first  drank  themselves,  as  a 
proof  that  the  liquor  was  not  poisoned,  a  report  having 
prevailed  to  that  effect  ;  and  which  was  productive  of 
this  good  consequence,  that  it  prevented  rapid  intoxi- 
cation, and  of  course,  in  the  beginning,  lamentable  ex- 
cesses. 

The  insurgents  having  now  got  complete  possession  of 
the  town  of  Wexford,  many  persons  who  had  been  yeo- 
men, after  having  thrown  off  their  uniforms,  affected  a 
cordial  welcome  for  them,  and  endeavoured  by  an  exhi- 
bition of  all  the  signs  and  emblems  of  the  united  Irish- 
men, to  convince  them  of  their  sworn  friendship  ;  and  it 
is  indeed  not  a  little  remarkable,  that  many  of  those  who, 
hi  this  change  of  affairs,  boldly  marched  out  as  occasion 
demanded  to  meet  the  king's  forces,  now  display  them- 
selves as  stanch  orangemen  of  unimpeachable  loyalty. 


100 


HISTORY  07  THB 


Almost  every  person  in  the  town  threw  open  thefr  doom 

with  offers  of  refreshment  and  accommodation  to  the  in- 
surgents ;  and  the  few  that  did  notf  suffered  by  plunder, 
their  substance  being  considered  an  enemy's  property. 
Some  of  all  descriptions  indeed  suffered  in  their  property 
by  plunder,  on  deserting  their  houses  and  leaving  "none 
to  protect  or  take  care  of  them.  The  house  of  Captain 
Boyd  was  a  singular  exception.  It  was,  though  not  de- 
serted, pillaged,  and  exhibited  marks  of  the  hatred  and 
vengeance  of  the  people. 

As  the  station  of  the  insurgents'  camp  on  the  Three- 
rocks,  on  the  eastern  end  of  the  mountain  of  Forth,  only 
three  miles  from  Wexford,  commanded  a  full  view  of  the 
conflagrations  and  other  excesses  committed  by  the  mi- 
litary, it  required  the  utmost  exertion  and  prudential 
efforts  of  their  chiefs,  and  of  others  in  whom  they  placed 
any  confidence,  to  prevent  them  from  rushing  into  the 
town  and  taking  inconsiderate  vengeance,  being  utterly 
ignorant  of  its  abandonment  by  the  troops,  and  unac- 
quainted with  the  fact  of  its  being  possessed  by  a  dif- 
ferent party.  They  entered  the  town,  however,  in 
tolerable  temper,  but  all  moderation  was  banished  upon 
discovering  that  the  arms  and  ammunition  had  not  been 
surrendered,  so  that  it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  the 
town  was  preserved  from  being  set  on  fire  and  consumed ; 
the  inhabitants  being  charged  with  treason  for  not  insist- 
ing on  and  seeing  this  article  executed.  After  various 
scenes  of  disorder,  hurry,  and  confusion,  naturally  atten- 
dant on  such  occasions,  parties  were  dispatched  in  boats 
to  bring  on  shore  all  the  men,  arms,  and  ammunition 
they  could  find  in  the  ships,  and  other  vessels  in  the 
harbour,  which  in  the  morning  had  fallen  down  towards 
the  bar,  neither  wind  nor  tide  being  favourable  ;  two 
only  out  of  the  whole  had  actually  sailed  for  Wales. 
By  these  means,  all  the  men,  as  well  yeomen  as  other 
inhabitants,  were  directly  brought  on  shore  in  the  even- 
ing, and  the  vessels  with  the  women  and  children  im- 
mediately followed  to  the  quay. 

Amidst  this  scene  of  tumult  and  confusion,  not  easily 
con  ivable  to  any  one  who  has  not  witnessed  popular 
comm  on,  while  all  wished  to  accommodate  themselves 
as  much  as  ossible  to  the  exigency  of  the  moment,  and 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


10) 


to  appear  the  friends  of  their  newly  denominated  con. 
querors,  it  was  ludicrous  to  observe  a  gorgeous  military 
uniform  clandestinely  changed  for  loathsome,  tattered 
rags,  with  more  address  and  expedition  than  actors  on 
the  dramatic  stage  assume  different  dresses  and  appear- 
ances. 

Among  those  brought  on  shore  from  the  ships,  was 
Mr.  John  Boyd,  brother  to  Captain  James  Boyd,  of  the 
"Wexford  cavalry.  He  was  immediately  recognised ;  and 
he  and  his  family  being  obnoxious  to  the  people,  he  ran 
off  on  landing,  was  chased,  overtaken,  piked,  and  left 
for  dead,  but  he  lived  in  excruciating  agony  until  the  next 
morning,  when  he  expired.  I  had  been  brought  out  of 
one  of  the  ships  myself,  and,  on  landing,  was  proceeding 
through  the  general  confusion,  when  arriving  near  the 
bull-ring,  a  man  of  the  name  of  George  Sparrow,  a 
butcher  from  Enniscorthy,  chased  by  the  people  through 
the  streets,  ran  up  to  me  and  clasped  me  round  the  body, 
imploring  protection — beseeching  I  might  save  him.  I 
instantly  endeavoured  as  much  as  in  my  power  to  give 
him  succour,  and  to  defend  him  by  extending  my  arms 
and  body  over  him,  while  swords  and  pikes  were  pointed 
and  brandished  for  his  destruction :  but  my  endeavours 
proving  ineffectual,  and  rather  dangerous  to  myself,  and 
the  unfortunate  man  perceiving  I  could  not  afford  the 
protection  I  intended,  burst  from  me,  and  while  I  lay 
prostrate  in  the  street,  occasioned  by  his  effort  to  get  off, 
he  had  not  ran  many  yards  when  he  was  deprived  of  exist- 
ence. Some  ladies  who  were  so  situated  at  the  instant, 
as  to  be  spectators  of  the  scene,  have  since  assured  me, 
they  thought  I  had  been  also  killed  at  that  moment;  and 
considering  the  dreadful  circumstances,  I  think  it  most 
providential  that  when  thrown  down,  I  was  not  regarded 
as  the  devoted  victim  by  the  infuriate  populace.  To 
describe  my  feelings  on  this  occasion,  would  be  utterly 
impossible.  Ushered  into  the  town  against  my  will,  to 
witness,  in  the  first  onset,  such  a  specimen  of  popular 
vengeance,  and  naturally  imagining  that  acts  of  the  like 
violence  were  perpetrating  in  every  quarter  of  the  town, 
I  could  have  but  little  expectation  of  escape;  particularly 
when  the  dreadful  denunciation  resounded  in  my  ears, 
that  the  people  would  put  ever/  one  to  death  who  would 


102 


\ 

HISTORY  OF  THB 


dare  to  decline  joining  them;  and,  indeed,  in  consequence 
of  this  menacing  cry?  many  gentlemen  who  boast  of  loyal 
acts,  (the  very  contrary  of  truth,)  I  have  observed  to  have 
gone  farther  on  the  opposite  side  than  could  be  considered, 
either  since  or  before,  consistent  with  their  honour  or  their 
safety. 

The  town  of  Wexford  was  not  only  most  shamefully 
abandoned,  but  even  surrendered,  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses, when  it  might  have  been  easily  defended,  although 
no  one  will  now  acknowledge  having  been  concerned  in 
so  scandalous  a  transaction ;  and  notwithstanding  that 
the  very  persons  who  ought  to  have  been  its  most  stre- 
nuous protectors,  from  their  situation  and  circumstances, 
were  not  only  the  first  to  yield  it,  and  fly  so  clandestinely 
as  to  put  it  utterly  out  of  the  power  of  all  others  besides 
themselves  to  retreat,  but  left  even  their  own  wives  and 
families  to  the  mercy  of  an  irritated  and  ungovernable 
multitude.  Iri  any  other  country,  such  a  manifest  dere- 
liction of  duty  would  be  punished  in  the  most  exemplary 
manner — the  lives  of  such  craven  deserters  would  be 
forfeited  for  the  miseries  they  occasioned ;  but  in  ill-fated 
Ireland,  a  display  of  unprincipled  enmity  and  illiberal 
animosity  to  the  great  bulk  of  its  people,  constitutes  loy- 
alty and  desert  sufficient  to  wipe  away  the  blame  of  mis- 
conduct, and  even  to  obliterate  the  indelible  stigma  of 
cowardice.  The  conduct  of  the  inhabitants  of  Wexford, 
in  accommodating  themselves  to  the  circumstances  of  the 
moment,  after  their  abandonment,  must  be  considered  as 
totally  blameless ;  particularly  of  such  as  subsequently 
took  the  earliest  opportunity  of  returning  to  their  allegi- 
ance. Of  all  laws,  that  of  self-preservation  is  acknow- 
ledged the  most  imperious,  and  to  attain  this  in  times  of 
civil  commotion,  compliance  with  the  exigency  of  the 
instant  is  indispensable,  and  warranted  by  the  irresistible 
force  of  necessity ;  for  otherwise,,  as  all  moral  writer.' 
agree,  there  would  be  an  end  of  justice  and  civilization 
Allowances  have  certainly  been  made  for  numbers  whos' 
conduct,  in  an  abstracted  point  of  view,  was  evidently 
treasonable,  but  perfectly  excusable,  considering  the 
situation  in  which  they  were  placed,  by  the  fundamental 
laws  of  all  nations  of  regulated  society.  But  why  an 
exculpation  should  hold  good  for  some  individuals,  and 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


103 


not  for  all  those  in  a  similar  predicament,  is  a  paradox 
not  happily  explained  by  arguments  derived  from  the 
sources  of  bigotry  and  religious  prejudice.  With  cordial 
satisfaction  I  acknowledge  it  perfectly  just,  that  Protes- 
tants have  been  generally  exculpated  of  treason,  on  the 
ground  of  the  urgency  of  circumstances,  but  why  Ca- 
tholics should  be  excluded  from  the  like  charitable  con- 
sideration, will  not  be  fairly  or  easily  answered  by  those 
who  would  fain  exhibit  the  unfortunate  contest  of  this 
period — a  war  of  religion,  which,  upon  the  whole,  had 
but  very  little  to  do  in  it,  till  forced  into  action  by  the 
upholders  of  prejudice. 

Those  of  the  military  who  first  retreated  from  Wexford 
were  part  of  the  North  Cork  regiment,  commanded  by 
Captain  Snowe,  and  the  Scarawalsh  infantry  under  Cap- 
tain Cornock.  These  in  their  flight  met  Mr.  Colclough 
with  his  lady  in  a  phaeton,  coming  to  release  Mr.  Har- 
vey, by  taking  his  place  in  the  gaol,  according  to  his 
promise  the  preceding  evening.  On  falling  in  with  the 
troops,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Colclough  were  ordered  to  wheel 
about,  and  led  along,  while  swords  drawn  and  pistols 
cocked  threatened  their  lives  on  either  side,  if  the  people 
should  attempt  to  attack  the  military.  Mr.  Colclough 
was  frequently  ordered  to  stand  up  and  wave  his  hat  to 
several  groups  who  were  seen  collected  on  the  rising 
grounds,  led  by  curiosity,  from  the  disturbed  state  of  the 
country,  to  observe  what  was  going  forward.  These 
signals  were  for  the  people  not  to  approach,  with  which 
they  complied,  and  so  the  parties  got  safe  to  the  Scar,  at 
Barrystown ;  where  Mr.  Colclough  and  his  lady  were 
dismissed  without  further  violence.  The  next  division  of 
the  military  who  made  their  appearance  at  the  Scar  were 
part  of  the  Wexford  cavalry  under  Captain  Boyd,  who 
had  himself  it  seems  at  first  attempted  to  get  off  by  sea, 
but  notwithstanding  that  he  most  pathetically  entreated 
a  friend  of  his,  who  had  just  put  off  in  a  boat  only  a  few 
yards  from  the  quay,  to  return  and  take  him  on  board, 
yet  so  strongly  did  the  motive  of  self-preservation  ope- 
rate upon  the  person,  that  he  refused  to  comply.  The 
captain  then  seized  upon  his  horse,  which  he  had  before 
turned  loose,  mounted  directly,  and  overtook  Colonel 
Maxwell  on  the  roadl,  with  whom,  however,  he  did  not 


104 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


continue ;  but  drove  forward  with  all  speed  till  he  ar- 
rived at  Mr.  King's  of  Barry stown.  After  getting  some 
refreshment  here,  he  and  some  favourites  of  his  corps 
embarked  on  board  a  boat,  the  tide  being  too  high  to  pass 
otherwise,  and  so  proceeded  in  safety  to  Duncannon 
Fort.  Mr,  Colclough  met  several  of  these  flying  gentry 
at  Barrystown,  and  the  impression  of  their  fears  was 
fiuch,  that  they  all  declared  that  a  revolution  must  ine- 
ritably  succeed  in  the  nation,  for  that  as  the  rising  was 
general,  (so  they  then  supposed  it  to  be,)  nothing  could 
withstand  the  people.  They  even  congratulated  Mr. 
Colclough  on  the  happiness  of  not  being  obliged  to  quit 
his  country,  as  he  had  taken  no  active  part  against  the 
people,  and  as  his  recent  confinement,  on  suspicion  of 
being  their  friend,  was  greatly  in  his  favour.  They 
next  pathetically,  many  of  them  in  sobs  and  tears,  la- 
mented the  unfortunate  necessity  under  which  they  lay 
of  quitting  their  native  land,  as  they  feared  the  people 
would  consider  their  former  exertions  so  inimical  to  their 
interests,  as  to  render  it  unsafe  for  them  to  remain  in  the 
country ;  and  after  this  they  took  a  cordial  leave  of  Mr. 
Colclough.  The  escape  of  Archibald  Hamilton  Jacob 
was  most  wonderful,  as  when  he  had  gone  out  with  the 
troops  that  advanced  towards  the  Three-rocks,  before 
8ny  others  had  thoughts  of  retreating,  he  got  off  under 
the  mountain,  and  by  keeping  by-roads,  he  most  provi- 
videntially  arrived  in  Ross,  where,  considering  the  state 
of  the  country,  he  did  not  stop,  but  hastened  to  Water- 
ford,  and  was  finally  induced  to  sail  for  England. 

Had  the  retreaters  the  presence  of  mind  to  wait  at  the 
Scar  until  the  tide  should  have  fallen,  they  would  have 
been  able  to  have  proceeded  with  much  greater  ease  than 
they  did  to  Duncannon  Fort.  Their  halting  there  would 
probably  have  enabled  many  of  the  stragglers  (numbers 
of  whom  were  cut  off)  to  come  up  with  them,  and  it 
would  have  taken  much  less  time  than  it  did  by  the  cir- 
cuitous route  which  they  adopted  ;  but  their  panic  and 
trepidation  were  such,  that  they  believed  the  insurgents 
were  at  their  heels,  which  brought  them  into  great  hard  - 
ships, during  a  confused  and  precipitate  flight,  continued 
even  through  the  night,  which  occasioned  many  to  lag 
behind,  who  thereby  became  devoted  victims  of  destruo- 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


105 


tion ;  the  cause  of  which  we  shall  presentl  j  hare  occasion 
to  mention.  The  last  of  the  military  that  left  Wexford 
were  the  Donegal  militia,  commanded  by  Colonel  Max- 
well, accompanied  by  Colonel  Colville,  Captain  Younge, 
and  Lieutenant  Soden,  of  the  tbirteenth  foot ;  the  re- 
maining part  of  the  North  Cork  regiment,  headed  by 
Colonel  Foote,  the  Shilmaiier  yeomen  infantry,  under 
the  Right  Hon.  George  Ogle,  and  the  Enniscorthy  infan- 
try, under  Captain  Pounden,  with  some  of  the  Wexford 
infantry,  some  of  the  Wexford,  Shilmaiier,  and  Ennis- 
corthy cavalry ;  and  the  rear  was  brought  up  by  the 
Healthfield  cavalry,  under  Captain  John  Grogan.  who 
covered  the  retreat.  These  were  followed  and  overtaken 
by  Captain  Boyd,  and  a  few  of  his  troop,  who  pushed 
forward  till  they  came  up  with  the  van  of  the  retreaters 
as  before  related. 

Great  numbers  of  people,  from  motives  of  curiosity, 
assembled  in  different  groups  to  view  the  military  in  their 
passage  through  the  country,  not  imagining  that  they 
should  be  any  more  molested  than  they  had  been  by  the 
first  parties  who  passed  them  quietly  by ;  and  had  any 
general  orders  to  this  effect  been  issued  to  the  retreating 
troops,  it  is  probable  they  would  have  been  attended  to 
and  productive  of  good  effect ;  but  although  Colonel 
Colville  did  all  in  his  power  to  prevent  the  soldiery  from 
firing  on  the  people,  yet  his  humane  and  wise  remon- 
strances were  not  successful.  The  first  victims  of  mili- 
tary fury,  however,  on  their  retreat,  were  tw  o  men  found 
with  arms  in  a  house  in  Wexford,  near  where  the  Shil- 
maiier yeomen  infantry,  commanded  by  the  Right  Hon. 
George  Ogle,  had  been  stationed  in  the  town.  These 
upon  the  evacuation  were  brought  away  by  the  corps  and 
shot  at  Maglass,  where  the  soldiers,  giving  a  loose  to 
their  rage,  pursued  the  unoffending  populace,  and  shot 
numbers  of  them,  who  endeavoured  to  conceal  them- 
selves in  the  ditches,  which  were  well  searched  for  their 
discovery.  The  Roman  Catholic  chapel  of  Maglass  was 
set  on  fire,  as  were  a  great  many  other  houses  in  the 
course  of  their  march,  while  others  were  plundered  ;  and 
not  a  countryman  that  was  seen  and  overtaken  could  es* 
cape  being  sacrificed  to  military  vengeance :  nay,  no* 
un frequently  did  neither  feminine  weakness  nor  helpless 


106 


HISTORT  OF  THE 


infancy  afford  protection,  as  they  obtained  in  severaf 
instances  no  mercy  from  the  indiscriminate  fury  of  the 
retreating  troops,  who  immolated  some  of  the  women  and 
children  of  the  affrighted  peasantry  as  they  fell  in  their 
way.  These  acts  of  unprovoked,  cold-blooded,  and  un- 
manly cruelty,  were  avenged  on  the  poor  stragglers  who 
were  by  any  casualty  separated  from  the  retreating  body, 
as  the  exasperated  country  people,  goaded  as  they  had 
been,  considered  every  person  in  a  military  garb  as  a 
sanguinary  and  relentless  enemy.  Several  soldiers  who 
had  been  followed  by  their  wives  and  children,  were  in- 
duced to  stay  behind  to  afford  them  assistance  on  so  dis- 
tressing a  march,  which  cost  many  of  them  their  lives  ; 
but  none  of  the  women  or  children  was  intentionally  hurt 
by  the  people  ;  even  some  children  who  were  abandoned 
by  or  lost  their  parents  on  this  occasion,  are  still  re- 
maining in  the  country,  cherished  and  protected  by  the 
inhabitants.  The  tide  still  continuing  too  high  at  the 
Scar  for  even  the  rear  of  the  retreating  troops  to  pass, 
they  took  the  like  circuitous  route  with  the  rest,  and  ar- 
rived at  Duncannon  Fort  on  the  morning  of  the  3 1st  of 
May,  worn  out  with  hardship  and  fatigue,  having  lost 
many  of  their  men,  and  in  the  utmost  confusion  and 
disorder. 

On  the  night  of  the  30th,  the  town  of  Wexford,  con- 
sidering all  that  had  happened,  was  remarkably  quiet, 
all  finding  repose  necessary  after  their  various  hardships. 
In  the  evening,  vast  numbers  went  to  visit  their  several 
dwellings  in  the  country,  to  be  informed  of  the  condition 
of  their  families  and  properties ;  but  very  early  on  the 
morning  of  the  31st,  the  streets  were  as  crowded  as  be- 
fore, and  the  confusion  and  plunder  of  the  day  preced- 
ing now  recommenced.  The  people  were  much  discon- 
tented with  the  inhabitants  for  not  detaining  for  their 
use,  the  arms  and  ammunition  of  the  garrison  ;  as  the 
entire  of  their  military  stores  at  this  time  amounted  to  no 
more  than  three  barrels  of  gunpowder  found  in  the  bar- 
racks, a  few  hundred  of  cartridges,  with  some  odd  casks 
and  pounds  of  powder  found  in  shops  and  gentlemen's 
houses.  Their  discontent  soon  proceeded  to  threats 
against  different  individuals,  and  amongst  the  rest  against 
Mr.  Fitzgerald,  who  had  gone  home  the  night  before, 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


107 


and  was  not  as  yet  returned.  He  was  at  once  accused  of 
having  betrayed  the  people ;  vengeance  was  vowed 
against  him,  and  he  was  threatened  with  instant  death. 
On  his  appearance  soon  after,  however*  the  ferment  sub- 
sided as  instantaneously  and  unaccountably  as  it  had  at 
first  originated.  The  'principal  inhabitants  of  Wexford 
very  naturally  wished  to  get  rid  of  these  troublesome 
intruders,  and  to  effect  this  desirable  object,  such  of  the 
better  sort  as  had  any  influence  with  the  multitude,  lent 
their  cordial  assistance,  and  they  at  length  Succeeded. 
The  insurgents  were  induced  to  move  out  of  the  town 
and  encamp  on  the  Windmill-hills  ;  where,  after  much 
confused  consultation,  they  divided  into  two  bodies,  one 
of  which,  consisting  of  those  who  inhabited  the  Wexford 
side  of  the  Slaney,  marched  to  Taghmon.  As  in  such  a 
mixed  multitude  there  must  be  many  of  all  dispositions, 
it  is  not  wonderful  that  there  were  some  who  would  in- 
cite to  and  practise  outrage.  Some  of  this  description 
of  persons  hunted  for  orangemen,  whom  they  denomi- 
nated their  enemies  ;  while  others,  imitating  the  conduct 
of  the  military  on  the  day  before,  but  in  a  far  less  degree, 
plundered  private  property,  burnt  the  houses  of  four  re- 
spectable farmers,  and  put  one  man  to  death  on  their 
way  to  Taghmon,  outside  of  which  town  they  encamped 
for  that  night.  The  other  division  of  the  insurgents, 
consisting  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  part  of  the  county 
north  of  the  Slaney,  directed  their  march  towards  Gorey  ; 
and  in  the  course  of  their  progress,  burned  the  houses  of 
some  whom  they  considered  as  enemies,  plundered 
others,  and  encamped  that  night  on  the  hill  of  Carri- 
grew.  The  encampment  on  Vinegar  Hill,  by-the-bye, 
continued  a  permanent  ona  during  the  whole  period  of 
the  insurrection. 

As  it  is  an  incontrovertible  fact  that,  before  this  pe- 
riod, there  were  fewer  united  Irishmen  in  the  county  of 
"Wexford  than  in  any  other  part  of  Ireland,  and  these  few 
only  sworn,  as  has  been  already  observed,  in  a  detached 
manner,  unconnected  by  any  organization,  it  is  amazing 
to  think  with  what  success  the  insurrection  appears  to 
have  been  attended  in  its  commencement ;  that  a  people 
thus  roused  all  of  a  sudden,  without  any  previous  prepa- 

tion,  should  gain  such  signal  advantages.    If  further 


108 


HISTORY  O?  THB 


proof  were  all  at  necessary  of  the  little  progress  made  by 
the  system  of  the  united  Irishmen  in  the  county  of  Wex- 
ford, anterior  to  the  rising,  in  addition  to  no  return  ot 
numbers  being  even  stated  to  have  been  made  from 
thence  by  any  leaders,  that  proof  would  be  amply  sup- 
plied by  the  vast  numbers  that  eagerly  came  forward, 
desiring  to  be  sworn,  upon  these  first  successes ;  for,  in 
the  existing  state  of  the  country,  at  this  juncture  when 
men's  minds  were  totally  unmasked  and  all  disguise 
thrown  away,  it  may  be  fairly  implied,  that  all  who 
might  have  been  previously  sworn  would  not  fail  to  come 
forward  and  take  advantage  of  such  circumstances,  by 
boasting  in  the  moment  of  exultation,  of  prior  concern 
in  a  system  then  considered  univerally  prevalent  through 
the  islaud,  and  of  the  final  success  of  which  the  least 
doubt  was  not  entertained  at  this  period  ;  besides,  at  this 
crisis,  it  is  natural  to  conclude  that  had  any  organiza- 
tion heretofore  existed,  the  chosen  chiefs  would  be  in- 
duced to  declare  themselves  and  assume  their  stations, 
for  had  they  concurred  in  their  appointment  when  they 
ran  every  risk  of  legal  punishment,  before  the  actual 
breaking  out  of  the  insurrection,  now  that  it  was  believed 
victorious  and  universal,  they  must  feel  every  encourage- 
ment to  act  without  reserve  and  with  their  utmost  vi- 
gour ;  but  the  fact  was  absolutely  otherwise,  as  most  of 
the  leaders  throughout  the  disturbances  in  Wexford, 
acted  in  their  several  stations  from  the  irresistible  force 
of  compulsion  and  constraint  after  it  had  actually  ex- 
isted ;  whatever  representations  by  surmise  or  presump- 
tion may  have  appeared  to  the  contrary.  Another  cir- 
cumstance of  general  misrepresentation  is,  that  the  in- 
surrection in  the  county  of  Wexford  was  connected  with 
the  disturbances  in  other  parts  of  the  nation,  while  no- 
thing can  be  more  contrary  to  truth ;  as  on  the  arrest  of 
the  Leinster  delegates,  assembled  at  a  provincial  meeting 
in  Bridge-street,  in  Dublin,  on  the  12th  of  March,  1798, 
there  was  not  a  delegate  or  any  return  of  numbers  from 
the  county  of  Wexford,  as  evidently  appears  from  the 
reports  of  the  secret  committees  of  both  houses  of  the 
Irish  parliament ;  and,  during  the  whole  period  of  its 
continuance,  this  county  was  beset  on  all  sides  with 
troops,  so  as  to  be  completely  insulated,  and  therefore 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


no  efficient  intercourse  could  exist  between  it  and  anj 
other  part  of  Ireland ;  for  scarcely  ap.y  one  could,  in 
passing  to  or  from  it,  escape  detection,  save  in  a  very 
few  instances,  in  which,  whether  by  connivance,  or 
otherwise,  some  persons  from  the  adjoining  counties 
passed  into  it,  and  some  of  the  natives  out  of  it,  but  as 
neither  returned  to  their  respective  homes  during  the 
time  specified,  such  instances  cannot  effectually  militate 
against  the  general  position  here  laid  down,  from  incon- 
trovertible facts,  in  opposition  to  any  unqualified  asser- 
tion and  groundless  conjecture  :  in  fact,  as  there  was  no 
preconcerted  plan  of  insurrection  in  the  county  of  Wex- 
ford, there  was  no  similarity  of  circumstances  or  occasion 
between  that  and  the  commotion  in  any  other  part  of 
Ireland,  except  in  the  casual  incidents  of  their  happening 
at  the  same  time,  and  that  perhaps  the  people  of  other 
counties  expected  like  effects  from  their  own  conduct 
with  those  hoped  for  by  the  people  of  the  county  of 
Wexford  from  their  own,  to  rescue  themselves  Irom  ap- 
prehended extermination,  which  they  thought  could  not 
be  effected  otherwise  than  by  the  most  determined  resist- 
ance. These  facts  are  thus  stated  to  disabuse  the  public, 
as  the  direct  contrary,  on  mere  surmise,  has  been  round- 
ly asserted  and  pretty  generally  believed  through  exag- 
gerated misrepresentation. 

Now,  that  the  insurrection  of  the  county  of  Wexford 
was  at  its  height,  there  existed  no  kind  of  subordination 
or  control ;  individuals  assumed  the  privilege  of  indulg- 
ing their  own  dispositions,  and  of  gratifying  private  ma- 
lice. The  unruly  populace  were  furious  and  ungovern- 
able, and  many  of  this  description  remained  in  Wexford 
after  the  great  body  of  the  insurgents  had  retired  from 
the  town  :  they  seized  upon  and  lodged  in  the  gaol  many 
persons  from  all  parts  of  the  surrounding  country,  who 
had  fled  thither  for  protection,  and  were  now  endeavour- 
ing to  conceal  themselves  in  the  different  houses  of  their 
friends,  to  escape  popular  resentment.  Many  former 
piques,  however  remote  or  trivial  they  might  have  been, 
were  avenged  in  this  manner;  so  that  on  the  31st  a' 
May,  the  gaol  of  Wexford  became  absolutely  crowded. 
On  this  very  day  Mr.  Harvey,  who  had  been  released 
from  confinement  by  the  people,  as  soon  as  they  took 


no 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


possession  of  the  town,  and  was  by  them  appointed,  whe* 
ther  he  would  or  no,  their  commander-in-chief,  had  en- 
gaged several  gentlemen,  among  whom  there  were  many 
apprehensive  of  popular  violence,  to  an  entertainment  at 
his  former  lodgings,  which  he  had  then  resumed ;  and 
all  these  he  naturally  supposed  under  effectual  protection 
with  him,  from  the  nature  of  his  appointment,  against 
all  popular  outrage ;  but  he  soon  had  lamentable  proof 
how  groundless  were  his  fond  expectations.  In  the 
evening,  soon  after  dinner,  a  great  mob  of  country  people 
assembled  in  the  street  before  the  house,  some  of  whom 
knocked  violently  at  the  door,  and  insisted  that  Mr. 
Turner,  whom  they  knew  to  be  within,  should  be  deliv- 
ered up  to  them  to  be  put  to  death,  for  having  burned 
some  of  their  houses.  I  was  one  of  those  invited  by  Mr. 
Harvey,  and,  as  Mr.  Turner  was  a  most  particular  friend 
of  mine,  I  instantly  went  out,  and  was,  as  I  fondly  ima- 
gined, so  far  successful  as  to  prevail  on  the  populace  to 
retire;  but  to  my  great  mortification  they  returned 
shortly  after,  and  insisted  with  redoubled  violence  on 
Mr.  Turner's  being  brought  out  to  them.  Mr.  Fitz- 
gerald, who  had  now  come  to  my  assistance,  and  my- 
self, urged  every  argument  that  friendship  could  suggest, 
to  dissuade  them  frow  their  dreadful  purpose,  and  Mr. 
Harvey  also  interposed  for  the  same  intent,  by  which 
means  the  multitude  was  once  more  induced  to  retire. 
It  was  but  for  a  short  time,  however,  as  they  quickly 
came  back  to  the  house  with  more  violence  and  fury  than 
before ;  a  shot  was  now  fired  at  the  door,  as  the  first 
notice  of  their  approach,  and  they  reiterated  their  de- 
mand with  the  loudest  and  most  desperate  vociferations. 
Some  of  the  gentlemen  who  on  that  day  dined  with  Mr. 
Harvey,  now  came  out,  and  all  their  united  entreaties 
and  remonstrances  could  obtain  from  the  enraged  multi- 
tude was,  that  Mr.  Turner  might  be  lodged  in  the  gaol 
to  abide  his  trial ;  but  the  demagogues  denounced  that 
if  he  was  not  sent  thither  directly,  Mr.  Fitzgerald  and 
Mr.  Hay  (meaning  myself)  must  forfeit  their  lives.  This 
roused  the  friendly  feelings  of  Mr.  Turner,  who  had 
overheard  all  that  passed,  and  he  accordingly  requested 
he  might  be  brought  to  gaol,  as  the  only  xikice  of  safety 
in  his  opinion,  when  neither  the  house  nor  the  inter- 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


in 


ference  of  his  friends  or  the  chief  commander  could  en- 
sure him  protection ;  as  could  not  indeed  the  house  of 
any  one  at  this  perturbed  period,  as  those  of  the  greatest 
abettors  and  reputed  favourites  and  supporters  of  the 
people  were  searched  and  violated  by  forcibly  taking  out 
of  them  numbers  of  people  denominated  enemies. 

Tnese  outrages  determined  many  to  surrender  them- 
selves, in  order  to  be  sent  to  gaol,  in  hopes  of  greater 
security,  as  well  as  it  induced  others  to  remain  in  con- 
finement from  similar  expectancy  of  protection  from  the 
resentment  of  their  neighbours.  From  considerations  of 
this  nature.  Mr.  Harvey,  constrained  as  he  was  to  con- 
duct Mr.  Turner  to  the  gaol,  released  from  thence  every 
other  person  not  violently  accused,  and  the  number  was 
considerable  whom  he  thought  to  be  obnoxious  to,  but 
by  these  means  secure  from  the  intemperate  vengeance 
of  the  people.  During  the  first  days  of  the  insurrection, 
indeed,  any  person  of  previous  popular  character,  could 
release  a  friend  from  confinement  -.but  such  interference 
soon  became  so  displeasing  to  the  people,  that  most  of 
those  who  had  been  thus  liberated  were  again  re-com- 
mitted, and  destruction  threatened  to  any  one  that  would 
presume  again  to  enlarge  them  ;  which  prevented  num* 
bers  from  interposing  their  good  offices  in  favour  of  such 
of  their  friends  as  had  in  any  manner  incurred  popular 
odium.  Private  malice  was  on  these  occasions  but  too 
frequently  exerted,  and  any  accusation  was  sufficient  to 
cause  any  person  to  be  sent  to  gaol ;  which,  however, 
was  esteemed  by  many  the  safest  asylum,  as  it  .was  ex- 
pected that  when  popular  fury  should  have  abated,  the 
persons  confined  might  be  permitted  to  return  quietly  to 
their  homes.  The  only  effectual  mode  of  procuring  libe- 
ration from  prison,  however,  at  this  period  was,  to  pro- 
cure a  certificate  in  favour  of  the  prisoner  from  the 
neighbourhood  in  which  lie  lived,  and  in  this  way  many 
were  set  at  liberty,  who,  to  secure  themselves  against 
future  crimination,  generally  joined  the  insurgents.  As 
to  the  power  of  popularity,  at  ail  times  precarious,  so 
difficult  of  attainment,  and  so  easily  lost,  and  which  no 
truly  wise  man  ever  made  the  scope  of  his  actions,  or 
final  object  of  pursuit,  it  could  effect  little  in  such  trou- 
blesome and  turbulent  times  as  those  we  are  treating  of, 


112 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


when  an  insurrection  prevailed,  excited  by  oppression, 
and  in  which  there  existed  no  regular  plan  of  operation 
or  system  of  action  ;  while  the  minds  of  the  ungovernable 
multitude  were  sore  and  desperate  from  recent  irritation. 
Amidst  such  a  dreadful  public  ferment,  popularity  to  a 
liberal  mind  proves  a  most  tyrannical  subjugation,  as  it 
encumbers  the  possessor  with  the  oppressive  weight  of 
mobbish  applause,  while  it  confers  not  on  him  the  power 
of  relieving  a  suffering  friend,  who  may  have  attracted, 
inadvertently,  or  otherwise,  the  deadly  resentment  of  an 
unbridled  populace ;  and,  what  is  still  more  afflicting  to 
generous  feelings,  the  devoted  victim  of  the  moment 
perhaps  imagines  the  popular  friend  all-powerful  for  his 
preservation,  while  it  is  melancholy  to  reflect  that,  on 
such  occasions,  it  is  in  the  power  of  a  villain  to  counter- 
act the  benevolent  intentions  and  humane  disposition  of 
the  highest  respectability,  intelligence,  and  virtue ! 

After  the  insurgents,  as  has  been  related,  moved  off 
in  two  separate  divisions  from  Wexford,  there  still  re  • 
mained  several  of  their  number  in  the  town,  who  as- 
sumed the  office  of  supplying  the  camps  with  necessaries, 
and  this  by  their  own  authority  they  declared  must  be 
done  from  Wexford.  These  self-created  commissaries, 
having  put  all  necessaries  accordingly  in  requisition, 
began  to  search  all  the  houses,  and  in  the  course  of  such 
survey,  plundered  them  of  every  article  they  thought 
proper,  asserting  that  all  they  took  away  was  for  the 
general  service.  Great  abuses  were  consequently  com- 
mitted in  this  arbitrary  mode  of  levying  contributions, 
and  so  great  a  waste  of  property,  particularly  of  provi. 
sions,  was  made,  that  the  town  and  its  neighbourhood 
were  threatened  with  a  famine.  The  people  of  Wexford, 
therefore,  desirous  to  get  rid  of  these  troublesome  marau- 
ders, and  to  have  some  regulations  adopted  for  the  pre- 
vention of  plunder,  appointed  twelve  of  the  principal 
inhabitants  as  a  committee,  to  regulate  the  distribution 
of  provisions,  as  well  as  of  all  other  necessaries  in  requi- 
sition; and  the  generous  individuals  who  undertook  this 
arduous  task,  (it  was  indeed  a  herculean  labour,  )  were 
actuated  by  the  most  virtuous  and  disinterested  motives 
in  their  exertions  to  protect  general  as  well  as  individual 
property.    As  whiskey  and  leather  were  the  articles 


IBJftf  REBELLION. 


most  in  demand  in  the  camps,  distillers  and  tanners 
especially  entreated  the  committee  to  issue  regular  orders 
for  the  supplies  from  their  stores,  to  prevent  as  much  as 
possible  the  total  destruction  of  their  substance  and  con- 
cerns, adding,  that  they  were  very  billing  to  give  up 
their  whole  stock  for  the  general  service;  yett  strange 
as  it  may  appear,  some  of  this  description  of  persons 
were  most  forward  afterward  in  prosecuting  those  very 
men,  who,  by  their  humane  interference,  were  instru- 
mental in  saving  their  lives  and  properties ;  for  certainly 
the  worst  consequences  were  to  be  apprehended  from  the 
indiscriminate  plunder,  and  consequently  inordinate  con- 
sumption of  spirituous  liquors,  by  the  prevention  of 
which  and  other  disorders,  through  indefatigable  exer- 
tions, the  committee  actually  proved  the  salvation  of  the 
country,  and,  what  may  not  appear  unworthy  of  ob- 
servation, although  chosen  by  the  inhabitants  at  large 
from  among  themselves,  there  was  but  one  united  Irish- 
man among  them,  which  could  noc  be  the  case,  had  the 
people  been  generally  sworn. 

Captain  Keugh  was  appointed  military  commander  of 
the  town,  which  was  now  divided  into  wards,  each  of 
which  had  a  company  of  men,  armed  with  guns  and  pikes 
as  they  could  procure  them,  and  these  appointed  their 
own  officers.  There  was  a  regular  parade  morning  and 
evening  on  the  custom-house  quay  ;  guards  wert  struck 
off  and  relieved,  and  a  pass-word  and  countersign  regu- 
larly given  out.  The  insurrection  had  by  this  time  be- 
come so  general  in  all  parts  of  the  county  forsaken  by 
the  military,  that  even  the  inhabitants  of  the  baronies  of 
Forth  and  Bargy  thought  it  incumbent  on  tliem  to  show 
their  disposition,  and  to  appear  in  Wexford ;  in  short* 
even  person  remaining  in  the  county  thought  it  best  at 
this  period  to  come  forward  and  make  common  cause  with 
the  insurgents.  The  inhabitants  of  the  last-mentioned 
baronies,  however,  being  a  race  of  men  of  peaceable  and 
industrious  habits,  and  not  having  experienced  the  per- 
secutions practised  in  other  districts,  were  not  easily 
«xcited  to  commit  those  acts  c  outrage  which  took  plac* 
in  other  quarters ;  but  they  "vere  at  length  terribly 
alarmed  and  roused  to  resistanc  ;  by  the  cruel  and  mercj 


114 


HISTORY  Of  TH8 


less  conduct  of  the  military  in  their  flight  from  Wexford ; 
but  even  then  their  determination  of  vengeance  appeared 
solely  directed  against  the  body  whose  unprovoked  fur^ 
had  affected  them  with  injury.  These  people,  on  their 
march  to  Wexford,  halted  near  Johnstown,  the  seat  of 
Cornelius  Grogan,  Esq.,  for  whom  a  party  was  dispatched 
to  bring  him  out  and  oblige  him  to  join  them  ;  and  thus 
this  aged  gentleman  was  constrained  to  accommodate 
himself  to  the  crazy  temper  of  the  times  ;  and  being 
placed  on  horseback,  then  ill  of  the  gout,  he  was  con- 
ducted along  by  the  multitude,  consisting  of  several 
thousands  on  foot,  and  many  hundreds  of  horsemen.  On 
their  entrance  into  the  town,  and  defiling  through  the 
streets,  not  many  pikes  could  be  seen,  but  vast  numbers 
were  equipped  with  spits,  pitchforks,  and  such  like  offen- 
sive weapons,  with  which  they  endeavoured,  as  much  as 
in  their  power,  to  imitate  and  assume  the  appearance  of 
pikemen;  and  after  having  shouted  and  paraded  for 
some  time  through  the  streets,  they  retired  peaceably  to 
their  homes,  without  committing  further  outrage.  AH 
theYorces  both  in  town  and  country  were  instantly  em- 
ployed  in  the  fabrication  of  pike-blades,  and  timber  of 
every  description  fit  for  handles  was  procured  for  that 
purpose  wherever  to  be  found ;  so  that  in  a  very  short 
time,  no  person  could  be  seen  (so  general  was  the  princi- 
ple or  affectation  of  arming)  without  a  warlike  weapon 
of  some  kind,  a  green  cockade,  a  hat-band,  sash,  or  other 
ornament  of  that  colour.  Four  oyster-boats  were  fitted 
out  in  the  harbour,  and  manned  with  five  and  twenty 
men  each,  to  cruize  outside  the  bay ;  and  these  from 
time  to  time  brought  in  several  vessels,  mostly  bound  for 
Dublin,  laden  with  oats,  potatoes,  and  different  other 
kinds  of  provisions ;  which  became  very  seasonable  sup- 
plies for  the  town,  that  must  otherwise  have  suffered 
great  distress,  as  the  markets  were  deserted  by  .the 
country  people.  Three  old  pieces  of  cannon  were 
brought  dowmand  mounted  on  the  fort  of  Koslare, 
situate  at  the  entrance  of  the  harbour,  to  prevent  any 
sloops  of  war  from  passing,  such  armed  vessels  only 
being  capable  of  entering  the  harbour  of  Wexford  ;  and 
four  old  sloops  were  ready  to  be  scuttled  and  sunk  in 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


112 


the  channel  to  prevent  any  such  armed  vessel,  in  \hf 
event  of  her  passing  the  fort,  from  approaching  thl 
town. 

Money  seemed  to  have  vanished  during  the  insurrec- 
tion, as  no  person  was  willing  to  admit  being  possessed 
of  any  currency  exclusive  of  bank-notes,  which  were 
held  in  such  little  estimation,  that  great  quantities  of 
them  were  inconsiderately  destroyed — some  in  lighting 
tobacco-pipes,  and  others  used  as  waddings  for  fire- 
locks ;  but  whatever  little  provisions  appeared  at  mar. 
ket,  sold  very  cheaply  for  ready  money  ;  for  instance, 
butter  sold  by  the  pound  for  two  pence,  and  butcher 's- 
meat,  of  any  kind,  for  one  penny.  As  to  bank-notes, 
any  one  might  starve  who  had  no  other  means  of  pro- 
curing the  prime  necessaries,  for  which,  when  offered  for 
sale,  nothing  but  specie  would  be  accepted  as  payment. 
Every  endeavour  was  made  to  have  the  markets  well 
supplied  and  attended  ;  but  even  at  the  cheap  rate  just 
stated,  there  were  scarcely  any  purchasers ;  so  unwilling 
did  every  one  appear  to  acknowledge  the  possession  of 
money  ;  but  it  must  be  mentioned,  that  indeed  the  ne- 
cessity of  purchasing  at  market  was  in  a  great  measure 
superseded ;  for  among  the  various  duties  of  the  com 
mittee  one  was  that  of  supplying  every  person  in  town 
with  provisions.  On  application  to  them  every  house 
was  furnished  with  a  ticket  specifying  the  number  of 
inhabitants,  and  all  persons,  even  the  wives  and  families 
of  those  considered  the  greatest  enemies  of  the  people, 
were  indiscriminately  included  ;  and  ever}r  person  sent 
with  a  ticket  to  the  public  stores  appointed  for  that  pur- 
pose, received  a  proportionate  quantity  of  meat,  pota- 
toes, and  other  necessaries  free  of  any  expense.  The 
bread  in  general  was  bad,  as  no  good  flour  could  be  ob- 
tained. 

In  the  country  the  people  formed  themselves  gene- 
rally into  parish  divisions,  and  each  division  elected  its 
own  officers.  All  persons  capable  of  carrying  arms  were 
to  attend  the  camps,  on  being  furnished  w'ith  pikes  or 
guns,  as  either  could  be  best  procured ;  some  on  foot 
and  others  on  horseback,  as  they  could  best  accommodate 
themselves.  Most  persons  were  desirous  to  wear  orna- 
ments of  some  kind  or  other,  and  accordingly  decorated 


118 


HISTORY  Of  THB 


themselves  in  the  most  fantastical  manner  with  feathers, 
tippets,  liand kerchiefs,  and  all  the  showy  parts  of  ladies*" 
apparel :  green  was  the  most  favourite  and  predominant 
colour,  but  on  failure  of  this,  decorations  of  almost  any 
other  colour  were  substituted ;  and  as  to  their  flags  or 
ensigns,  they  were  also  generally  green  or  of  a  greenish 
hue,  but  on  account  of  a  deficiency  in  this  respect  they 
displayed  banners  of  all  colours  except  orange,  to  which 
the  people  showed  the  most  unalterable  dislike,  aversion, 
and  antipathy  : — even  blue,  black,  red,  and  yellow,  were 
remarked  among  their  banners.  Many  damsels  made  an 
offering  of  their  coloured  petticoats  for  the  public  ser. 
vice,  and  to  make  these  gifts  the  more  acceptable,  they 
usually  decorated  them  according  to  their  different  fan- 
cies, and  from  the  variety  thus  exhibited,  there  appeared 
not  two  similar  banners  in  the  whole.  Several  loyal 
ladies  too,  both  in  town  and  country,  displayed  their 
taste  in  richly  and  fancifully  ornamenting  ensigns,  to 
ingratiate  themselves  with  the  people ;  but  many  of 
them,  not  having  time  to  perfect  their  chef-d'ceuvres  be- 
fore the  insurrection  was  suppressed,  have  since  thought 
it  prudent,  I  suppose,  to  destroy  these  and  the  like  spe- 
cimens of  elegant  accomplishment,  at  which  I  had  op- 
portunities of  observing  them  earnestly  employed,  during 
the  short-lived  period  of  popular  triumph.  But  now  we 
must  return  to  events  which  occurred  in  other  parts  of 
the  country. 

After  the  battle  of  Oulart,  which  was  fought  on  the 
27th  of  May,  as  already  detailed,  the  yeomanry  distin- 
guished themselves  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  by 
falling  on  the  defenceless  and  unoffending  populace,  of 
whom  they  slew  some  hundreds.  It  being  Whitsunday, 
the  people  were  as  usual  going  to  their  chapels  to  attend 
divine  service,  when  many  of  them  were  led  by  curiosity, 
which  is  generally  excited  by  the  report  of  fire-arms,  to 
ascend  different  eminences,  from  which  the  dreadful  and 
horrid  scenes  of  devastation  by  fire  and  sword,  prevailing 
through  the  oountry  round,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach, 
was  presented  to  their  astonished  and  affrighted  view ; 
and  as  the  different  groups  thus  collected  were  perceived 
■>y  the  yeomanry,  these  pursued  and  cut  them  down.  Th«3 
most  inoffensive  were  most  likely  to  suffer  by  this  mode 


IRI8H  REBELLION. 


117 


of  quieting  disturbances,  because,  conscious  of  their  in- 
nocence, they  made  no  effort  to  avoid  the  sudden  fate 
which  they  had  no  reason  to  apprehend.  Even  many 
who  remained  within  their  houses  did  not  fare  better  than 
their  more  curious  or  less  fearful  neighbours,  as  numbers 
of  them  were  called  out  and  shot  at  their  own  doors : 
nay,  some  infirm  and  decrepid  old  men  were  plunged 
into  eternity  by  these  valorous  guardians  and  preservers 
of  the  public  peace  !  On  every  occasion,  however,  they 
were  not  inexorable  to  the  piteous  petitions  for  life,  as  a 
sum  of  money  properly  offered  and  timely  presented  saved 
some ;  who,  after  the  insurrection  was  quelled,  came  for- 
ward with  their  complaints;  and  among  others,  who  were 
obliged  to  disgorge  these  bloody  ransoms,  Mr.  Hunter 
Gowan,  a  magistrate  and  captain  of  a  yeomanry  corps, 
on  a  complaint  made  to  Mr.  Beauman,  sen.,  of  Hyde 
Park,  (from  whom  I  had  this  account,)  was  obliged  to  re- 
fund the  money.  These  people,  on  surrendering  their 
pikes  and  other  offensive  weapons  and  arms,  fondly 
imagined  that  they  had  secured  themselves  protection, 
and  were  therefore  not  at  all  apprehensive  of  attack,  but 
they  soon  found  themselves  miserably  mistaken.  Had 
their  intentions  been  for  violence,  they  would  naturally 
have  assembled  in  a  large  body  on  some  commanding 
hill,  as  the  other  insurgents  did,  where  they  would  have 
appeared  formidable ;  so  that  their  having  collected 
into  numberless  small  groups  is  certainly  to  be  deemed 
rather  the  effect  of  curiosity  than  the  effort  of  insur- 
rection. 

Great  numbers  of  people,  taking  their  families  and  such 
of  their  effects  as  they  could  conveniently  transport 
thither  along  with  them,  fled  for  refuge  into  Gorey,  where 
a  general  panic  however  prevailed,  although  besides  the 
yeomanry  of  the  town,  a  party  of  the  North  Cork  militia, 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Swayne,  together  with 
the  Ballaghkeen,  Coolgreny,  Arklow,  Northshire,  and 
Coolatin  corps  of  yeomen  cavalry  ;  the  Tinnahely  and 
"Wingfield  corps  of  yeomen  infantry  ;  and  a  company  of 
the  Antrim  militia,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Elliot, 
were  stationed  there :  but,  notwithstanding,  on  a  rumour 
that  the  insurgents  were  approaching,  it  was  determined 
to  abandon  the  town,  and  proceed  to  Arklow  ;  but,  pre' 


118 


HISTORY  OP  THE 


vious  to  its  evacuation,  eleven  men  taken  out  of-iheif 
beds  within  a  mile's  distance,  were  brought  in  and  shot 
in  the  streets,  where  they  were  left  for  dead;  but  six  of 
them  recovered.  By  order  of  Mr.  White,  however,  up- 
wards of  one  hundred  prisoners  were  released  from  the 
gaol  and  market-house,  and  many  of  them  received  pro- 
tections, which  they  placed  in  their  hats,  in  order  to  ex- 
hibit as  conspicuously  as  possible ;  but  this  precaution  did 
not  prevent  3orae  being  shot  by  other  yeomen,  whom  they 
fell  in  with  cn  their  way  home !  The  order  for  evacuation 
being  announced  at  five  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
28th,  a  distressing  scene  of  trepidation  and  confusion 
ensued.  Affrighted  crowds  of  people  might  be  seen  run- 
ning in  all  directions,  preparing  for  flight ;  while  such  as 
could  were  harnessing  their  horses  and  placing  their  fami- 
lies on  cars  with  the  utmost  precipitation — all  endeavour- 
ing to  escape  from  the  town  as  speedily  as  possible.  The 
road  was  soon  thronged  to  a  great  extent  with  a  train  of 
cars,  which  were  loaded  with  women  and  children,  ac- 
companied by  a  vast  multitude  on  foot,  among  whom 
were  many  women  with  their  children  on  their  back,  and 
from  the  continued  heat  and  drought  of  the  weather,  the 
dust  excited  by  this  crowded  procession  distressfully 
obstructed  respiration. 

By  this  abandonment  of  Gorey  the  whole  of  the  sur- 
rounding country  was  left  entirely  exposed,  and  yet  the 
insurgents  did  not  at  all,  at  this  time,  approach  the  town, 
but  remained  in  their  encampment  on  the  hill  of  Carri- 
grew  ;'  nor  did  the  inhabitants  of  this  quarter  then  rise 
or  join  in  the  insurrection  ;  but  strictly  observed  on  their 
part  the  promises  they  had  made  to  the  magistrates  on 
surrendering  their  arms;  and  yet  it  is  a  notorious  fact, 
that  there  were  more  united  Irishmen  in  this  than  in  any 
other  part  of  the  county  of  Wexford,  and  that  it  even 
comprehended  the  district  of  sixteen  parishes  already 
stated  to  have  been  proclaimed  in  November,  1797.  While 
Gorey  was  thus  abandoned  by  the  military,  and  by  such 
as  were  allowed  or  for  whom  it  would  be  safe  to  accom- 
pany them,  it  was  filled  with  the  property  and  effects  of 
the  fugitives,  yet  no  plunder  was  committed,  and  no  dis- 
turbance took  place,  so  that  on  their  return  they  found 
all  belonging  to  them  in  perfect  security,  having  been 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


119 


protected  by  those  that  remained  in  the  town.  The  only 
instance  of  spoliation  supposed  to  have  taken  place  on 
this  occasion  is,  that  a  yeoman  got  some  money  belong- 
ing to  Mr.  William  Sparrow,  by  whose  desire  lie  came 
for  it  on  the  30th,  and  which  the  owner  never  received. 
A  party  of  yeomen  returned  on  the  29th,  and  brought 
away  provisions,  but  as  these  were  gailopping  into  the 
town,  one  of  the  shoes  of  a  yeoman's  horse  struck  fire 
against  the  pavement ;  haply  on  the  very  spot  where  a 
quantity  of  gunpowder  had  remained,  after  a  small  cask 
of  that  dangerous  combustible  which,  previous  to  the 
flight,  had  fallen  from  a  car  into  the  street  and  was  burst.  An 
explosion  instantly  ensued,  by  which  the  horse  and  horse- 
man were  blown  up,  and  narrowly  escaped  with  life :  the 
horse's  hair  was  desperately  singed,  and  the  yeoman 
himself  was  terribly  scorched.  On  the  31st,  the  military 
returned  to  Gorey.  On  which,  although  left  utterly  de- 
fenceless since  the  morning  of  the  28th,  not  the  smallest 
attempt  was  made  by  the  insurgents  to  take  possession ; 
and  on  the  disposition  to  peace  and  order  manifested  by 
the  inhabitants  who  remained  in  the  town  after  the 
abandonment,  their  laudable  conduct  is  the  best  comment. 
Different  parties  of  yeomen  went  out  from  the  town, 
ransacked  the  houses  through  the  country,  brought 
away  as  much  as  they  could  carry,  driving  off  numbers 
of  cattle,  some  belonging  to  Lord  Mountnorris,  and  put 
them  into  Mr.  Ram's  demesne.  Indeed,  they  were  not 
very  exact  or  scrupulous  as  to  individual  property,  for 
they  brought  off  all  the  cattle  they  could  collect  in*  the 
country,  and  took  up  bacon,  cheese,  butter,  and  pro- 
visions of  all  kinds  wherever  they  found  them ;  and  to 
crown  all,  they  took  a  great  number  of  men  prisoners, 
to  supply  the  place  of  those  that  were  liberated  in  the 
commencement  of  the  flight  ;  so  that  this  must  be 
acknowledged,  if  not  valorous,  at  least  very  active 
service. 

On  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  June,  an  independent,  or 
self-constituted  body  of  insurgents,  unknown  to  any  of  the 
three  general  encampments  of  Vinegar  Hill,  Taghmon, and 
Carrigrew,  proceeded  on  a  secret  expedition  to  Newtown- 
barry  (anciently  called  Bunclody),  garrisoned  by  the 
King's  county  militia,  commanded  by  Colonel  Lestrange, 


120 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


and  the  corps  of  yeomen  cavalry  and  infantry  belonging 
to  the  place.  These  insurgents  having  divided  into  two 
parties,  made  their  attack  on  hoth  sides  of  the  Slaney,  on 
the  western  bank  whereof  lies  the  town,  and  of  this  they 
were  soon  left  in  possession  by  the  retreat  of  the  military-, 
but  they  instantly  proceeded  to  plunder,  particularly 
whiskey,  of  which  they  drank  very  freely,  and  being  thus 
regardless  of  the  advantage  they  obtained,  they  afforded 
the  military,  whom  they  did  not  attempt  to  pursue,  time 
to  rally  and  return  upon  them  while  in  this  disorderly 
state,  so  as  to  oblige  them  to  fly  with  some  loss  and  pre- 
cipitation. 

On  this  day,  also,  a  party  of  insurgents  from  Vinegar 
Hill,  proceeded  to  join  those  encamped  at  Carrigrew,  whose 
numbers  were  greatly  lessened  by  desertions  for  home. 
They  were  now,  however,  mustering  pretty  strongly  all 
over  the  country,  intending  to  assemble  their  collective 
force  on  the  hill  of  Ballymenane;  but,  while  moving  for- 
ward in  a  detached  and  disorderly  manner,  they  were  met 
by  a  force  from  Gorey,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant 
Elliot,  consisting  of  parties  of  the  Antrim  and  North 
Cork  militia,  above  fifty  yeomen  infantry,  and  three  troops 
of  yeomen  cavalry.  These,  by  preserving  their  order, 
had  great  advantage  in  this  unexpected  rencounter  over 
the  insurgents,  who  retreated  with  some  loss  and  in  dis- 
order ;  leaving  behind  a  great  number  of  horses  which 
were  brought  into  Gorey,  together  with  the  plunder  of 
many  houses,  which  were  burnt  after  despoiling  ;  among 
the  rest  that  of  Mr.  Kenny,  a  tanner  and  shopkeeper,  con- 
fidently asserted  to  be  a  loyal  man :  his  character, however, 
did  not  protect  him,  for  he  was  shot  in  his  own  garden, 
and  so  fell  a  victim  to  the  angry  indiscriminating  spirit  of 
the  times,  like  many  other  innocent  persons.  This  is  very 
strongly  exemplified  by  a  transaction  mentioned  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Gordon  as  follows: — "A  small  occurrence  after 
the  battle,  of  which  a  son  of  mine  was  a  witness,  may 
help  to  illustrate  the  state  of  the  country  at  that  time : — 
Two  yeomen  coming  to  a  brake  or  clump  of  bushes,  and 
observing  a  small  motion  as  if  some  persons  were  hiding 
there,  one  of  them  fired  into  it,  and  the  shot  was  answered 
by  a  most  piteous  and  loud  screech  of  a  child.  The  other 
yeoman  was  then  urged  by  his  companion  to  fire;  but  he 


miSH  REBELLION 


121 


being  a  gentleman,  and  less  ferocious,  instead  of  firing, 
commanded  the  concealed  persons  to  appear,  when  a  poor 
woman  and  eight  children  almost  naked,  one  of  whom 
was  severely  wounded,  came  trembling  from  the  brake, 
where  they  had  secreted  themselves  for  safety."*  Indeed 
the  settled  practice  was,  to  shoot  all  men  that  were  met ; 
and  by  this  desperate  system,  the  most  innocent  and 
peaceable  were  generally  the  most  likely  to  suffer;  for 
being  unwilling  to  join  the  insurgents,  the  ungenerous 
suspicions  generally  thrown  out,  however  unjustly,  against 
the  Catholics,  which  constituted  a  vast  majority  of  the 
people  at  large,  precluded  the  possibility  of  their  joining 
the  army  or  yeomen,  who  professed  the  rankest  and  most 
inveterate  distrust  of  the  people,  for  any  of  whom  it  was 
extremely  unsafe  to  venture  into  their  presence  on  any 
occasion  whatsoever,  as  numbers  had  fallen  a  sacrifice  to 
a  confidence  in  their  own  peaceable  intentions  and  inno- 
cent demeanour;  and  this  kind  of  conduct  had  finally  the 
effect  of  determining  multitudes  to  join  the  insurgents, 
considering  it,  at  length,  the  only  means  of  self-preser- 
vation .  The  mind  of  the  impartial  reader  must  be  strongly 
impressed  with  the  barbarous  impolicy  of  thus  cherishing 
these  odious  and  unnatural  prejudices,  as  well  as  with 
the  desperate  situation  in  which  the  country  was  placed 
through  these  means;  and  what  a  dreadful  misfortune  it 
must  prove  to  be  an  inhabitant  where  not  only  such  senti- 
ments were  very  strenuously  inculcated,  but  where  even 
the  most  shocking  scenes  of  foulest  outrage  were  permit- 
ted, and  perpetrated  with  the  basest  and  most  criminal 
connivance. 

From  the  inactivity  of  the  insurgents  encamped  at 
Carrickbyrne.  occasioned  in  a  great  degree  from  their 
want  of  an  ostensible  commander,  constant  sallies  were 
made  out  of  Koss,  and  great  havoc  and  devastation  com- 
mitted throughout  the  country.  These  occurrences  pro- 
duced a  general  meeting  of  the  principal  inhabitants  on 
the  1st  of  June,  wherein  Mr.  Harvey  was  called  on  to  act 
as  commander-in-chief,  and  various  other  appointments 
and  regulations  took  place  for  the  maintenance  and  supply 
of  the  country.    The  day  after,  Mr.  Harvey  took  uw 


•  See  Hiatury.  ua£t»  U*. 


122 


HISTORY  OF  THB 


command  in  person  at  Carrickbyrne,  where  on  his  arrival, 

several  fugitives  appeared  giving  dreadful  accounts  of 
their  suffering  from  the  yeomanry,  and  at  the  time  several 
houses  Avere  on  fire  about  Old  Ross.  The  commander-in- 
chief  instantly  ordered  Mr.  Thomas  Cloney,  with  all  the 
horsemen  that  could  be  collected,  to  proceed  against  the 
depredators,  who  fled  on  their  approach,  and  were  chased 
in  full  speed  to  Ross.  At  this  critical  period,  the  Pro- 
testant church  of  Old  Ross  was  burned,  by  no  means  with 
the' knowledge  or  consent  of  Mr.  Cloney  or  his  party  ; 
and  the  result  of  every  inquiry  at  the  time  was,  that  the 
church  was  set  on  fire  in  revenge  and  retaliation  by  indi- 
vidual sufferers,  as  many  houses  were  burned,  and  several 
unresisting  persons  were  shot  immediately  preceding  this 
conflagration.  I  should  wish  to  be  able  to  give  a  more 
circumstantial  account  of  this  occurrence,  as  it  was  the 
only  one  of  the  kind  that  took  place  during  the  insurrec- 
tion, but  have  not  been  able  to  procure  further  infor- 
mation ;  however,  a  witness  on  the  trial  of  Mr.  Cloney 
by  court-martial  at  Wexford  in  1799,  mentioned  the 
circumstance,  but  in  such  a  manner  as  only  to  attract 
the  notice  of  an  enthusiastic  maniac.  -  By  having  refer- 
ence to  the  trial,  it  will  also  appear,  that  Mr.  Cloney 'a 
humanity  and  exertions  for  those  in  any  kind  of  distress, 
was  as  conspicuous  as  his  courage  in  the  field,  after  he 
had  been  forced  from  his  house  when  the  military  had 
fled,  and  left  the  insurgents  in  uncontrollable  possession 
of  the  country. 

On  the  2d  of  June,  as  one  of  the  armed  oyster-boats 
already  noticed,  was  cruising  outside  the  harbour  of  Wex- 
ford, she  fall  in  with  a  boat  from  Arklow,  which  upon 
being  hailed,  came  to  and  was  taken.  On  board  this 
vessel  were  three  officers  of  the  North  Cork  militia,  Lord 
Kingsborough,  the  colonel,  Captain  O'Hea,  and  Lieute- 
nant Bourke,  who  were  accordingly  made  prisoners.  This 
nobleman  and  these  his  officers  were  in  Dublin  when  in 
formed  of  the  defeat  of  part  of  their  regiment  at  Oulart 
as  before  stated,  and  immediately  proposed  to  join  it;  foi 
which  purpose,  proceeding  by  land  as  far  as  Arklow,  and 
Ending  the  insurrection  mare  formidable  than  they  could 
be  brought  before  to  imagine,  they  there  hired  a  boat  to 
carry  them  to  Wexford,  not  conceiving  it  possible  that  it 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


123 


had  been  abandoned  and  then  in  the  hands  of  the  insur- 
gents. They  were  taken,  therefore,  at  their  entrance 
into  the  harbour,  and  conducted  without  any  person  in 
town  being  previously  informed  of  the  fact,  to  the 
house  of  Captain  Keugh,  then  the  acknowledged  military 
commander  of  the  town.  Here  his  lordship  and  the  two 
officers  made  prisoners  with  him  were  entertained  for 
some  days  before  the  people  expressed  any  dissatisfaction 
or  apprehension  that  they  might  be  enabled  to  escape  ; 
but  these  manifestations  of  popular  distrust  being  made 
known,  they  were  conveyed  to  a  house  in  the  bull-ring, 
near  the  mainguard-house,  where  sentinels  were  posted 
inside  and  outside ;  and  there  they  continued,  under 
these  measures  of  precaution,  until  the  subsequent  sur- 
render of  the  town  to  his  lordship  himself  a^  an  officer  in 
the  king's  service. 

The  people  of  the  barony  of  Forth,  having  by  this  time 
sufficiently  equipped  themselves  with  pikes,  joined  the 
encampment  now  formed  on  the  hill  of  Carrickbx  rue, 
whither,  it  must  be  observed,  the  insurgents  of  the  camp 
near  Taghmon  had  shifted  on  the  1st  of  June.  A  small 
party  from  Wexford  also,  denominated  the  Faith-corps, 
joined  the  encampment  on  Carrigrew. 

The  committee  of  general  regulation  appointed  in  Wex- 
ford, and  already  noticed,  waited  on  Mr.  Harvey,  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  insurgents,  expressing  their  hopes 
that  the  service  in  the  Protestant  church,  which  had  been 
hitherto  interrupted,  might  be  no  longer  discontinued  ;  as 
they  wished  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  dissipate  religious 
animosities,  by  inculcating  the  absurdity  of  fear  on  this 
account  alone,  and  to  undeceive  the  numbers  of  sudden 
converts  who  were  applying  to  the  Catholic  priests  to 
be  baptised,  beseeching  in  the  most  earnest  manner  to 
bp  thus  received  into  the  bosom  of  the  Catholic  church, 
from  an  idea  that  it  was  then  the  only  plan  of  safety. 
Kay,  so  persevering  were  the  generality  in  their  piteous 
entreaties,  that  the  Catholic  clergy  found  themselves  very 
distressingly  circumstanced;  for  should  they  refuse  to 
comply  wiih  the  wishes  and  earnest  solicitations  oi  such 
Protestants  as  offered  themselves  in  this  way,  they  per- 
ceived that  they  would  be  subject  to  the  most  violent  ani- 
madversions for  any  fatal  accident  that  might  befall  any  ot 


124 


HISTORY  Of  THS 


them ;  and  on  the  other  hand,  knowing  that  imagined 
necessity  alone  was  the  motive  of  apparent  conversion, 
they  must  have  considered  it  improper  to  accept  their  con- 
formity without  serious  and  solemn  probation.  On  this 
occasion,  however,  the  humanity  of  many  superseded  the 
dictates  of  duty,  so  far  as  to  induce  them  to  risk  the  pro- 
fanation of  a  sacrament  for  the  preservation  of  lives,  and 
to  dispel  the  dreadful  apprehensions  from  orangemen  ;  the 
greatest  assurance  of  not  belonging  to  that  combination 
being  that  of  conversion  to  the  Catholic  communion,  which 
was  considered  to  render  any  person  inadmissible  into  an 
association  which  the  majority  of  the  people  absolutely 
believed  to  be  instituted  for  their  destruction.  Their 
alarms,  however,  worked  so  strongly  on  the  minds  of  the 
affected  converts,  that  all  arguments  exerted  to  dispel 
their  fears  generally  proved  ineffectual,  as  they  would  still 
persist  in  most  earnest  solicitation  for  admission.  Some 
clergymen,  however,  in  this  dilemma  positively  refused 
baptising  Protestant  converts,  but  then  they  took  a  far 
better  and  consistent  mode  of  quieting  alarms.  They 
gave  the  strongest  assurances  to  such  as  applied  to  them, 
that  the  Catholic  church  does  not  deem  it  necessary  to 
rebaptise  any  denomination  of  Christians  otherwise  than 
conditionally,  as  the  existence  of  apy  previous  baptism 
whatever,  and  attendance  on  duties  and  divine  service, 
was  sufficient  conformity. 

A  curious  circumstance,  however,  occurred  in  Wex- 
ford at  this  time,  which  eventually  produced  a  great  num- 
ber of  conditional  baptisms.  A  young  lady  who  on  first 
application  failed  of  persuading  a  Catholic  priest  to  confer 
on  her  the  favour  of  baptism,  had  the  diligence  and  ad- 
dress afterwards  to  discover  that  the  Protestant  minister 
who  had  undertaken  to  perform  that  ceremony  in  her  in- 
fancy, had  only  filliped  or  sprinkled  the  water  at  her  with 
his  finger,  and  so  it  was  within  the  limits  of  probability 
that  a  drop  might  not  have  reached  her  head  so  as  to  form 
an  ablution.  Being  very  ingenious  and  persevering  in  her 
arguments,  so  as  to  appear  capable  of  puzzling  the  nicest 
casuist,  she  at  last  made  out  her  own  a  doubtful  case,  and 
was  accordingly  quieted  by  conditional  baptism.  When 
the  particulars  of  this  transaction  got  abroad,  the  solicita- 
tions to  the  Catholic  clerajy  for  the  boon  of  conditional 


IRI8H  REBELLION. 


125 


baptism  became  considerably  more  frequent,  the  appli- 
cants quoting  this  recent  precedent,  and  adducing  the 
hearsay  evidence  and  far-fetched  recollection  of  grand 
mothers,  grand-aunts,  and  other  grave  and  venerated  re- 
latives, with  a  long  train  of  minute  circumstances,  to  prove 
a  similarity  of  cases,  and  claiming  on  this  account  an 
equal  consideration.  Notwithstanding  the  earnest  cxer* 
tions  of  the  committee  and  many  of  the  principal  Ca- 
tholics to  dispel  the  fears  of  their  Protestant  brethren, 
whom  they  offered  to  protect  even  at  the  risk  of  their  own 
lives,  all  endeavours  to  have  service  performed  in  the 
Protestant  church  proved  ineffectual.  It  must  be  re- 
marked, however,  that  the  place  itself  suffered  not  the 
smallest  indignity  during  the  whole  period  of  the  insur- 
rection, except  in  the  instance  of  the  abandonment  of  their 
usual  place  of  worship  by  the  Protestants,  of  whom  great 
numbers  flocked  in  the  most  public  and  conspicuous  man- 
ner to  the  Catholic  chapel,  where  they  affected  the  great- 
est piety  and  devotion.  The  epithets  of  craw-thumpers, 
opprobriously  applied  to  Catholics  for  contritely  striking 
their  breasts  at  their  devotions,  was  never  more  strongly 
exemplified  than  by  these  converts.  Catholics  strike  their 
breasts  gently  on  certain  occasions,  and  witk  the  right 
hand  alone,  but  Protestants  who  attended  at  mass  in  these 
tunes  generally  continued  to  strike  themselves  vehemently 
with  both  hands  almost  during  the  whole  service.  I  had 
the  good  fortune  to  prevent  all  such  as  consulted  me  on 
the  occasion  as  to  the  expediency  of  conforming,  by  per- 
suading them  to  avoid  the  disgrace  of  such  a  mockery  ; 
and  I  had  the  satisfaction  afterwards  to  hear  those  ap 
plauded  who  did  not  appear  to  change  their  religion, 
while  those  who  turned  with  the  times  were  reprobated — 
some  as  hypocrites,  and  others  as  cowards.  And  in  good 
truth,  what  favourable  opinion  could  be  entertained  of 
such  as  did  not  continue  faithful  even  to  their  God  ac- 
cording to  the  dictates  of  their  conscience  ? 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Dixon,  a  Roman  Catholic  clergyman, 
who  had  been  condemned  before  a  magistrate  and  sen- 
tenced to  transportation,  was  sent  off  toDuncannon  Fort 
the  day  preceding  the  insurrection ;  and  this  was  on  the 
testimony  of  a  man  named  Francis  Murphy,  whose  evi- 
dence was  positively  contradicted  by  three  other  wit- 


126 


HISTORY  OF  THR 


nesses.  These  facts,  together  with  the  public  odium 
incurred  by  the  man  himself,  induced  Thomas  Dixon,  a 
sea-faring  captain  and  master  of  a  vessel,  who  also  kept 
a  porter-house  in  Wexford,  to  take  a  summary  mode 
of  avenging  the  fate  of  the  clergyman,  who  was  his 
relation.  For  this  purpose  he  brought  the  man  out  of 
gaol,  upon  his  own  sole  authority,  and  conducted  him 
down  to  the  bull-ring,  where  he  obliged  three  revenue 
officers,  who  were  then  prisoners,  and  whom  he  brought 
out  along  with  him,  to  shoot  him,  and  afterwards  to  bear 
Lis  body  to  the  quay  and  throw  it  into  the  water.  This 
execution  took  place,  with  all  its  shocking  circumstances, 
while  most  of  the  town's-people  were  at  prayers,  and  was 
utterly  unknown  to  the  principal  inhabitants  ;  but  at  all 
events  Dixon  could  the  more  readily  accomplish  his 
vengeance,  without  fear  of  being  prevented,  on  account 
of  the  public  execration  generally  prevalent  against  in* 
formers. 

The  military  stationed  at  Gorey  made  constant  sallies, 
in  the  course  of  which  through  the  country  they  plun- 
dered and  burnt  many  houses,  and  shot  several  stragglers 
who  happened  to  fall  in  their  way.  This  provoked  the 
insurgents  to  vie  with  their  opponents  in  this  mode  of 
warfare,  and  retaliation  has,  on  this  as  well  as  on  every 
other  occasion,  produced  many  woful  scenes.  Enormi- 
ties in  fact  were  committed  on  both  sides,  which,  among 
their  many  lamentable  consequences,  tended  to  exaspe- 
rate the  party-animosities  already  too  powerfully  destruc- 
tive of  the  peace  and  happiness  of  the  country.  At  this 
time  reinforcements  were  every  day  crowding  into  Gorey. 
On  the  3d  of  June,  General  Loftus  arrived  there  with 
fifteen  hundred  men  under  his  command,  as  did  also 
Colonel  Walpole  from  Carnew,  whence  he  had  several 
times  gone  out  to  reconnoitre  the  camp  at  Carrigrew.  A 
determination  was  formed  to  attack  this  on  the  4th,  with 
the  force  then  in  Gorey,  with  which  the  troops  from 
Carnew  and  Newtownbarry  were  to  co-operate,  so  as  to 
engage  the  insurgents  on  all  sides  ;  and  from  these 
arrangements,  and  considering  the  force  that  was  to  act 
against  them,  little  doubt  was  entertained  of  their  total 
and  speedy  defeat.  The  army  from  Gorey  marched  out 
%t  the  appointed  time  and  formed  into  two  divisions— « 


9 


IRISH  REBELLION, 


137 


the  one  under  General  Loftus  took  route  towards  Bally* 
cauevr ;  while  the  other,  commanded  by  Colonel  Walpole, 
proceeded  by  the  Camolin  road  directly  to  commence  tho 
concerted  attack  on  Carrigrew.  The  insurgents  had, 
however,  quitted  this  post,  and  were  in  full  march  towards 
Gorey,  when  they  suddenly  and  unawares  fell  in  with  this 
military  body  under  Colonel  Walpole,  at  a  place  called 
Tubberneering.  The  meeting  was  equally  unexpected 
on  both  sides,  and  this  circumstance,  no  less  true  than  ex- 
traordinary, neither  parties  having  any  scouts,  produced 
an  instantaneous  and  confused  action,  in  which  Colonel 
Walpole  was  killed  in  a  few  minutes  after  its  commence- 
ment, and  his  troops  immediately  gave  way  and  fled  in 
the  utmost  precipitation  and  disorder,  leaving  the  victors 
in  possession  of  three  pieces  of  cannon,  two  six-pounders, 
and  another  of  inferior  size.  The  fate  of  this  action  was 
so  quickly  decided,  as  to  allow  General  Loftus  not  th^ 
smallest  opportunity  of  affording  the  troops  under  Colonel 
Walpole  any  assistance.  The  loss  of  the  military  in 
killed  and  wounded  was  considerable,  besides  Captain 
M'Manus,  Lieutenant  Hogg,  and  Ensign  Barry,  of  the 
Antrim  militia,  with  many  privates  taken  prisoners.  The 
rest,  in  the  greatest  possible  haste,  being  pursued  by  the 
insurgents,  reached  Gorey,  which  they  as  quickly  passed 
through;  but  would  in  revenge  put  the  prisoners  in  the 
town  to  death,  had  they  not  feared  that  the  delay  it  would 
occasion  might  cost  them  too  dearly.  This  account  I 
have  from  a  captain  of  yeomanry,  who  opposed  with  all 
his  might  the  perpetration  of  such  a  cruel  and  barbarous 
deed,  and  who,  to  his  honour,  was  incapable  of  counte- 
nancing such  an  atrocity  under  any  circumstances.  The 
retreat  was  thence  very  precipitate  to  Arklow,  where  a 
council  of  war  was  hastily  held,  at  which  it  was  as  hastily 
determined  to  abandon  that  town,  and  this  was  accord- 
ingly put  into  execution.  Some  were  so  panic-struck 
that  they  did  not  stop  till  they  reached  Dublin ;  but  others 
stopped  at  different  distances  when  their  horses  or  them- 
selves weiv  not  able  to  proceed  further.  General  Loftus, 
on  hearing  the  report  of  the  cannon  and  ether  fire-armi 
in  the  engagement,  not  being  able  to  go  across  the 
country,  proceeded  round  by  the  road  to  the  scene  oi 
action,  where  he  found  the  bodies  of  many  slain,  and 


128 


HISTORY    OF  THS 


did  not  learn  the  fate  of  Colonel  Walpole  till  he  saw  him 
stretched  on  the  field  of  battle.  He  then  moved  towards 
Gorey,  but  thought  it  most  prudent  to  alter  his  line  of 
direction  upon  being  saluted  by  the  insurgents  with  the 
cannon  they  had  just  taken,  and  which  they  had  drawn 
up  to  the  summit  of  the  hill  of  Gorey,  which  is  imme- 
diately over  the  town,  commanding  it  in  every  quarter. 
The  general  then  marched  to  Carnew  and  from  that  to 
Tullow;  The  troops  that  had  proceeded  from  Carnew  in 
the  morning  to  co  operate  in  the  intended  general  attack 
on  the  insurgents  at  Carrigrew,  did  not  return  thither 
upon  hearing  of  the  defeat,  but  made  Newtownbarry 
with  those  who  had  come  out  from  thence  on  the  same 
expedition. 

The  insurgents  were  now  in  possession  of  the  whole  of 
the  county  of  Wexford,  except  the  fort  of  Duncannon, 
the  towns  of  Ross  and  Newtownbarry  ;  and  were  at 
perfect  liberty,  if  they  pursued  their  advantages,  to  seize 
upon  Carnew,  and  also  to  enter  Arklow,  situated  in  the 
county  of  Wicklow,  and  what  consequences  might  have 
ensued  are  now  incalculable. 

On  the  evening  of  the  4th  of  June,  the  insurgents  sta- 
toined  on  the  hill  of  Carrickbyrne,  whither  the  Taghmon 
encampment,  as  has  been  observed,  was  transferred  on 
the  1st,  now  proceeded  to  Corbet  Hill,  within  a  mile 
of  the  town  of  Ross,  the  garrison  of  which  had  lately 
received  great  reinforcements,  by  the  arrival  there  of  the 
Donegal,  Clare,  and  Meath  regiments  of  militia,  a  de- 
tachment of  English  and  Irish  artillery,  the  5th  dra- 
goons, the  Mid-Lothian  Fencibles,  and  on  this  very  even- 
ing the  county  of  Dublin  regiment  of  militia  considerably 
added  to  its  force,  which  upon  the  whole  amounted  to 
twelve  hundred  men,  exclusive  of  the  yeomen,  all  under 
the  command  of  Major-General  Johnson,  who  expected 
an  attack  during  the  night,  and  consequently  the  troops 
remained  under  arms  without  being  allowed  to  take  any 
repose.  The  insurgents,  led  by  their  commander-in- 
chief,  Mr.  Beauchamp  Bagnal  Harvey,  a  little  after  theii 
arrival  on  Corbet  Hill,  were  saluted  with  a  few  cannon 
shot  and  bomb-shells  from  the  town,  without  producing 
any  other  effect  than  that  of  increasing  their  vigilance. 
Mr.  Harvey  and  his  principal  officers  took  up  their  auar- 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


129 


ters  in  the  house  of  Corbet  Hill,  where  being  regaled 
with  an  excellent  supper  and  exquisite  wines,  they  were 
bo  well  pleased  with  their  cheer,  and  so  far  forgot  their 
prudence  as  commanders,  that  they  had  scarcely  time  to 
fall  asleep  since  the  moment  of  their  retirement,  until 
they  were  roused,  by  the  orders  they  had  given  in  their 
sober  moments,  to  commence  the  attack  at  break  of  day. 
Mr.  Furlong  was  immediately  despatched  with  a  flag  of 
truce,  and  the  following  summons  to  the  commanding 
officer  in  Ross  : — 

M  Sir — As  a  friend  to  humanity  I  request  you  will 
surrender  the  town  of  Ross  to  the  Wexford  forces  now 
assembled  against  that  town.  Your  resistance  will  but 
provoke  rapine  and  plunder  to  the  ruin  of  the  most  inno- 
cent. Flushed  with  victory,  the  Wexford  forces,  now 
innumerable  and  irresistible,  will  not  be  controlled  if 
they  meet  with  any  resistance  :  to  prevent,  therefore, 
the  total  ruin  of  all  property  in  the  town,  I  urge  you  to 
a  speedy  surrender,  which  you  will  be  forced  to  do  in  a 
few  hours,  with  loss  and  bloodshed,  as  you  are  sur- 
rounded on  all  sides.  Your  answer  is  required  in  four 
hours.  Mr,  Furlong  carries  this  letter  and  will  bring  the 
answer. 

<k  I  am,  sir,  &c.  &c. 

<*  B.  B.  Harvey. 

"  Camp  at  Corbet  HilL  half-past  three 
o'clock  morning,  June  5th,  1798." 

Mr.  Furlong  was  shot  the  moment  he  approached  the 
outposts,  which  so  exasperated  the  people,  that  they  could 
not  be  restrained  from  instantly  rushing  on  to  attack  the 
Three-bullet  gate,  being  the  part  of  the  town  next  to 
them  ;  and  this  it  was  that  principally  prevented  the 
concerted  plan  of  assault  from  being  carried  into  execu- 
tion ;  as  three  divisions  of  their  forces  were  to  have  be- 
gun their  operations  against  different  parts  of  the  town 
at  the  same  time.  This  particular  division  therefore  not 
waiting  till  the  other  two  should  have  readied  their  se- 
veral stations  ">f  action,  the  latter  not  only  did  not  pro- 
ceed, but  were  seized  with  such  a  panic  that  they  dis- 
persed all  over  the  country,  nying  in  all  directions  tc* 
their  several  homes,  and  bearing  as  they  went  along  the 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


tidings  of  a  total  defeat ;  and  this  derout  was  in  a  great 
degree  occasioned  by  the  example  of  one  of  the  divisional 
commanders,  who,  without  the  least  effort  to  answer  the 
intent  of  his  appointment,  turned  away  from  the  action, 
and  rode  hastily  homeward.  Even  in  the  town  of  Wex- 
ford,  nineteen  miles  from  Boss,  the  news  of  a  defeat  was 
announced,  at  an  early  hour  of  the  day,  by  many  fugi- 
tives who  had  taken  that  direction,  relating  various  and 
strange  adventures  to  account  for  tht^*  own  precipitin 
flight.  One  fourth  of  the  numbers  that  encamped  on 
Corbet  Hill  the  evening  before,  did  not  stand  in  the 
morning  of  the  day  of  action,  so  that  even  the  division 
that  commenced  and  afterwards  continued  the  assault, 
was  by  no  means  complete,  numbers  of  those  who  con- 
stituted it  having  also  abandoned  their  stations,  which 
were  far  from  being  adequately  supplied  by  such  of  the 
two  panic-struck  divisions  as  had  the  courage  and  reso- 
lution to  join  in  the  battle  then  going  forward  and  in  its 
greatest  heat.  From  this  statement,  however,  it  must 
appear  that  no  plan  was  pursued  in  the  attack  by  the 
insurgents,  but  that  whatever  they  accomplished  in  the 
onset,  must  have  been  from  individual  courage  and  in- 
trepidity. They  first  dislodged  the  army  from  behind 
the  walls  and  ditches  where  they  were  very  advanta- 
geously posted,  and  on  this  occasion  the  cavalry  in  their 
charges  were  repulsed  with  considerable  loss,  Cornet 
Dodweli  and  twenty-seven  men  of  the  fifth  dragoons 
having  fallen  in  the  first  onset.  The  military  then  re- 
treated into  the  town,  through  the  Three-hullet- gate, 
pursued  hot  foot  by  the  insurgents,  who  obliged  them  to 
move  from  one  situation  to  another,  until  they  at  last 
drove  them  over  the  wooden-bridge  on  the  Barrow  into 
the  county  of  Kilkenny.  The  main  guard  at  the  market- 
house,  however,  consisting  of  a  sergeant  and  fifteen 
men,  not  only  maintained  their  situation  but  even  de- 
fended it  with  uncommon  bravery  and  resolution,  having 
two  swivels  to  support  them.  Major  Vandeleur,  of  the 
Clare  militia,  also  continued  the  whole  of  the  day  with 
a  strong  detachment  of  his  regiment  at  his  post  at  Irish- 
town,  where  he  stood  pretty  severe  duty,  but  not  alto- 
gether  so  violent  as  it  would  be  had  the  place  been  gene- 
rally attacked,  according  t*>  Mr.  Harvey's  original  pl&fta 


HUSH  REBELLION. 


131 


this  being  the  principal  entrance.  When  the  insurgents 
had  thus  got  possession  of  the  town,  they  fell  to  plunder- 
ing and  drinking,  on  which  they  became  so  intent,  that 
they  could  not  be  brought  to  follow  up  their  advantage. 
In  the  meantime  the  army  rallied  on  the  county  of  Kil- 
kenny side  of  the  bridge  ;  and  although  a  retreat  waa 
before  determined  on,  yet  they  were  induced  to  return 
upon  perceiving  that  there  was  no  pursuit,  and  besides 
they  were  powerfully  instigated  to  this  by  the  spirited 
exhortations  of  Messrs  M'Cormick  and  Devereux,  two 
yeomen  not  possessed  of  any  command,  but  the  display 
of  whose  active  courage  and  intrepidity  contributed  in  a 
great  degree  to  turn  the  fate  of  the  day,  and  to  whose 
real  merit  every  praise  is  justly  due  on  this  occasion, 
wherein  few  officers  distinguished  themselves,  as  may  be 
fairly  concluded  from  the  official  returns  of  the  killed 
and  wounded,  these  casualties  in  regard  to  the  officers 
not  bearing  due  proportion  to  those  of  the  private  men, 
which  could  hardly  be  the  case  had  the  former  main- 
tained their  stations  with  becoming  firmness.  The  county 
of  Dublin  militia,  on  hearing  of  the  death  of  their  fa- 
vourite colonel.  Lord  Mountjoy,  were  the  first  to  renew 
the  attack  under  the  command  of  Major  Vesey.  Their 
examplf  was  followed  by  the  rest  of  the  troops,  and  their 
united  efforts  shortb  compelled  such  of  the  insurgents  as 
were  not  too  drunk,  to  fly  out  of  the  town,  of  winch  they 
had  been  by  this  time  some  hours  in  possession.  Having 
respired  a  little,  however,  from  their  hasty  retreat,  which 
m  a  great  degree  made  them  sober,  they  again  returned 
to  the  charge,  and  the  contest  which  now  ensued  was 
maintained  on  both  sides  with  great  obstinacy,  both  par- 
ties being  induced,  by  experience  of  the  former  encoun- 
ter, not  To  relax  their  exertions.  The  intrepidity  of  the 
insurgents  was  truly  remarkable,  as  notwithstanding  the 
jreadiul  havoc  made  in  their  ranks  by  the  artiliery,  they 
rushed  up  to  the  very  mouths  of  the  cannon,  regardless 
of  the  numbers  that  were  falling  on  ail  sides  of  them, 
and  pu>hed  forward  with  such  impetuosity,  that  they 
obliged  the  army  to  retire  once  more  and  leave  the  town 
themselves.  But  even  after  this  they  soon  fell  into 
tne  same  misconduct  as  before,  crowning  their  bravery 
with  drunkenness.    Of  this  the  proper  advantage  wai 


(32 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


quickly  taken  by  the  army,  who  again  renewed  the  at- 
tack, by  which  they  finally  became  perfect  masters  of 
the  town.  Several  houses  were  set  on  fire  and  consumed 
in  the  course  of  this  and  the  former  attack,  but  one  of 
these  deserves  particular  notice  :  this  was  a  slated  house, 
four  stories  high,  on  the  summit  of  the  main-street  near 
the  church,  in  which  seventy-five  persons  were  burnt  to 
ashes ;  none  having  escaped  but  one  man,  who,  in  run- 
ning away,  was  fortunate  enough  to  get  clear  of  the  fire 
of  the  soldiery.  On  the  evening  of  the  preceding  Wed- 
nesday, Mr.  Cullimore,  a  quaker,  wishing  to  visit  his 
family  at  his  country-house,  a  short  distance  from  the 
town,  was  taken  prisoner  as  he  attempted  to  pass  the 
patroles,  brought  in,  and  confined  in  the  market-house, 
from  which  he  was  not  released  on  the-day  of  battle,  as 
if  it  were  b}^  the  special  interference  of  Providence,  for 
some  of  the  military,  when  they  imagined  the  day  going 
against  them,  had  resolved  to  put  all  the  prisoners  in  the 
town  to  death,  but  when  a  party  of  those  on  guard  en- 
tered the  place  of  confinement  for  the  nefarious  purpose, 
Mr.  Cullimore  addressed  them  with  such  an  authoritative 
and  impressive  tone,  saying — You  shall  not  shoot  the 
prisoners  :  there  are  some  men  here  as  loyal  as  you  are." 
This  address  and  manner  of  a  man  better  than  Marius, 
awed  and  overcame  the  sanguinary  slaves,  so  that  they 
retired  without  perpetrating  the  horrid  crime  of  their 
bloody  intent ! ! !  Some  officers  and  privates  of  the  king's 
troops,  in  the  various  success  of  the  day,  were  induced 
from  time  to  time  to  attempt  a  retreat  to  Waterford, 
through  the  county  of  Kilkenny.  Some  of  these  suc- 
ceeded in  their  efforts ;  and  from  their  unfavourable  ac* 
counts  of  the  battle,  the  Roscommon  militia,  who  were 
in  full  march  towards  Hoss,  turned  about  fur  Waterford ; 
and  even  Captain  Dillon,  with  some  of  the  county-of. 
Dublin  militia,  were  intercepted  and  put  to  death  in 
their  progress  by  the  country  people,  who,  on  sight  of  the 
fugitives,  and  on  the  report  of  the  success  of  the  county- 
of- Wexford  insurgents,  were  making  every  preparation, 
and  nearly  in  readiness,  to  join  them.  The  insurgents 
being  upbraided  by  their  chiefs  for  sullying  their  bra  v?ry 
by  drunkenness,  made  a  third  attempt  to  regain  the  town, 
and  in  this  they  displayed  equal  valour  with  what  they 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


J  33 


exhibited  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  day  ;  but  by  this  time 
the  army  had  acquired  a  greater  degree  of  confidence  ic 
their  own  strength,  while  several  houses  blazed  in  tre- 
mendous conflagration  ;  and  the  insurgents  received  an 
irreparable  loss,  when  their  intrepid  leader,  John  Kelly 
of  Kill  an,  whose  dauntless  valour  on  this  day  was  but 
too  conspicuous,  received  a  wound  in  the  leg,  which  put 
an  end  to  his  career  of  victory !  Paralysed  by  the  loss 
of  such  a  man's  exertions,  and  no  longer  able  to  with- 
stand the  violence  of  the  flying  artillery,  the  insurgents 
sounded  a  regular  retreat,  bringing  away  with  them  a 
piece  of  cannon  taken  from  the  army  in  the  course  of  the 
action,  having  lost  one  which  they  brought  with  them, 
together  with  some  swivels  and  small  pieces  which  had 
been  drawn  on  for  mere  show,  and  which  could  not  be  of 
much  use  to  either  party.  The  insurgents  after  their 
defeat  returned  to  their  former  station,  having  encamped 
this  night  at  Carrickbyrne. 

The  loss  of  the  army  on  this  day,  by  official  statement, 
is  allowed  to  be  two  hundred  and  thirty,  in  killed,  wound- 
ed, and  missing  ;  but  that  of  the  insurgents  has  been  va- 
riously reported  even  by  different  eye-witnesses — some 
making  it  but  five  hundred,  while  others  stnte  it  at  two 
thousand.  Indeed,  it  is  impossible  to  ascertain  their  loss 
during  the  battle  itself,  as  the  number  of  dead  are  said 
to  be  doubly  accumulated  by  those  who  were  killed  un- 
armed and  unresisting  after  it  was  all  over.  Many  men 
had  become  so  intoxicated  in  the  course  of  the  day,  that 
they  were  incapable  of  flying  out  of  the  town  in  the  re 
treat  of  their  associates,  and  several  of  the  inhabitants, 
whose'houses  were  burnt,  and  having  therefore  no  place 
to  retire  to,  fell  victims  alike  as  straggling  insurgents  to 
the  undistinguishing  fury  of  the  irritated  soldiery,  from 
which  no  person  could  escape  who  was  not  clad  in  mili- 
tary attire  of  one  kind'or  other.  The  following  day  also 
the  few  thatched  houses  that  remained  unburnt,  being 
the  only  places  that  a  common  person  could  get  into, 
were  closely  searched,  and  not  a  man  discovered  in  them 
left  alive.  Some  houses  were  set  on  fire  even  so  thronged, 
that  the  corpses  of  the  suffocated  within  them  could  not 
fall  to  the  ground,  but  continued  crowded  together  in  an 
upright  posture,  until  they  were  taken  out  to  be  interred. 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


I  cannot  suppose  that  these  horrid  massacres  and  con- 
flagrations were  committed  in  revenge  for  the  infernal 
abomination  perpetrated  at  Seallabogue,  of  which  I  shall 
have  occasion  presently  to  make  mention,  as  no  intelli- 
gence of  that  lamentable  event  could  have  reached  Ross 
at  the  time ;  but  be  that  as  it  may,  officers  were  not 
only  present,  but  even  promoted  and  encouraged  those 
deeds  of  dreadful  enormity,  of  which  every  breast  not 
dead  to  humane  feeling  must  shudder  at  the  recital  t 

In  the  evening  afterjthe  action,  when  the  troops  were 
assembled  on  parade,  General  Johnson  singled  out  Lieu- 
tenant Egan  of  the  Royal  Irish  artillery,  (now  captain 
of  the  royal  artillery,)  to  whom  he  returned  his  public 
thanks  for  his  gallant  and  spirited  conduct  during  the 
action  ;  and,  indeed  every  praise  is  due  to  this  officer, 
who,  with  a  part  of  the  Donegal  militia,  was  principally 
instrumental  in  contributing  to  the  fate  of  the  battle. 
Several  proposals  were  made  to  the  general  to  abandon 
the  town  and  retreat  to  Kilkenny,  but  he  was  determined 
to  stand  as  long  as  he  had  a  man  to  support  him  ;  how* 
ever,  had  the  troops  been  attacked  that  night,  the  pre- 
valent opinion  is,  they  would  have  fled.  In  the  dispatches 
published,  thanks  were  returned  to  all  commanding  offi- 
cers. The  uncommon  bravery  and  exertions  of  Mr. 
Edward  Devereux  appeared  so  meritorious  to  General 
Johnson,  that  he  was  offered  a  commission  in  the  army, 
which  his  mercantile  avocations  prevented  him  from 
accepting  of. 

It  is  an  invariable  maxim  that  cowardice  and  cruelty 
are  very  closely  allied.  This  was  most  strongly  exem- 
plified by  the  barbarous  conduct  of  the  run-away  mur- 
derers who  fled  from  the  battle  of  Ross  to  Scullabogue, 
where  a  number  of  prisoners  were  confined  in  a  barn,  to 
which  these  savage  miscreants  (having  overpowered  the 
guards,  who  resisted  them  as  long  as  they  could)  set 
Are,  and  made  every  person  within  its  walls,  nearly 
eighty  in  number,  perish  in  the  flames.  One  hundred 
and  eighty-four  are  confidently  asserted  to  have  been 
victims  on  this  melancholy  occasion,  besides  thirty- 
seven  shot  and  piked  ;  but  then  the  same  account  states, 
that  the  barn  was  in  dimensions  only  thirty-four  feet  long, 
and  fifteen  feet  wide  •  and  it  is  not  therefore  within  the 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


ISA 


limit  of  reasonable  probability  that  there  were  so  many, 
as  they  would  have  been  so  closely  crammed  in,  that  the 
cruelty  of  such  confinement  could  not  escape  notice ; 
indeed  in  such  case  they  could  scarcely  stand  together 
and  respire.  1  am  therefore  led  to  believe,  that  the 
assertors  of  these  statements  have  been  imposed  upon, 
as  eighty  persons  Would  rather  crowd  such  a  space  too 
much  for  the  purposes  of  maintaining  life  and  health  ;  and 
I  am  consequently  induced  the  more  readily  to  think 
the  information  more  correct  with  which  I  have  been 
favoured  by  respectable  and  disinterested  authority 
from  the  neighbourhood  in  which  the  nefarious  transac- 
tion took  place ;  and  surely  it  must  prove  grateful  to 
every  mind  to  be  so  agreeably  un  ieceived  respecting  the 
fewer  number  of  victims.  Wickedness  is  seldom  exhi- 
bited only  in  single  acts  of  depravity  ;  it  scarcely  ever 
omits  exerting  every  possible  action  or"  baseness.  Such 
of  the  victims  at  Seultabogue  as  had  any  thing  about 
them  worth  taking,  were  plundered  before  being  con- 
signed to  their  horrible  fate.  It  is  alleged  on  the  part  of 
the  sanguinary  ruffians  concerned  in  this  most  detestable 
transaction,  that  it  was  in  retaliation  for  like  deeds  of 
desperate  cruelty  practised  against  themselves,  and 
irritated  as  they  were  lrom  recent  experience  of  perse- 
cutions and  tortures  of  every  kind — whippings,  strangu- 
lations, and  hangings  without  trial,  which  some  of  the 
party  had  narrowly  escaped  a  few  days  before  in  Ross, 
where  these  measures  were  very  prevalent :  but  no  in- 
centive, no  persecution,  no  experience  of  cruelty  can 
palliate,  much  less  excuse,  such  unnatural  and  detes- 
table atrocity.  It  is  but  justice,  however,  to  observe, 
that  in  this  horrid  transaction,  no  person  of  superior 
condition — none  above  the  mere  canaille,  or  lowest  de- 
scription of  men — was  at  all  concerned,  however  confi- 
dently the  contrary  has  been  asserted  ;  but  infamy  of 
tills  indelible  nature  should  never  so  much  as  glance  but 
at  its  proper  objects.  Were  the  fact  otherwise  than  a* 
here  stated,  it  must  have  been  notoriously  manifested  in 
the  course  of  the  several  trials  since  had  in  consequence 
of  the  very  enormity,  and  for  which  some  miscreants 
have  been  justly  doomed  to  execution.  But  truth  im- 
poses the  task  of  mentioning  also,  that  it  lias  appeared 


HIST  Oft  Y  OF  TUB 


from  solemn  evidence  given  on  those  trials,  that  in  con- 
sequence of  the  insurgents  being  disappointed  in  their 
expectation  of  taking  quiet  possession  of  Ross,  their  flag 
of  truce  being  shot,  and  after  the  attack,  the  fugitives 
from  the  town  communicating  accounts  of  the  tortures 
practised  there,  and  that  no  quarter  would  be  given  to 
the  people,  an  infuriated  multitude  of  men  and  women 
rushed  to  Scuilabogue  vociferating  revenge,  forced  the 
guards,  (who  did  all  in  their  power  to  protect  their 
charge),  and  set  fire  to  the  prison,  which  was  a  thatched 
house ;  and  for  this  transaction  General  Johnson  has 
not  escaped  animadversion,  as  it  is  said  he  was  re- 
peatedly "warned  to  spare  the  people  or  they  would 
resort  to  retaliation,  by  executing  all  the  prisoners  in 
their  hands  !  and  if  giving  quarter  would  have  prevented 
the  fatality  at  Scuilabogue,  humanity  excites  a  wish  it 
had  been  given.  It  is  material  to  observe  also,  that 
these  trials  have  disclosed  information  manifesting  a 
very  strong  feature  characteristic  of  popular  commotion, 
which  is,  that  the  unbridled  multitude  are  as  pre- 
cipitate as  indiscriminate  in  their  deeds  of  outrage, 
putting  them  into  excution  as  soon  as  conceived,  to 
prevent  the  possibility  of  counteraction.  This  is,  in 
fact,  so  true,  that  very  often  the  greatest  favourites 
cannot  escape  the  instantaneous  violence  of  popular 
fury.  Although  this  cannot  be  considered  as  an  excuse, 
nothing  being  capable  of  palliating,  much  less  excus- 
ing the  crime  at  Scuilabogue,  yet  its  guilt  would  be 
greatly  aggravated  did  it  appear  a  deliberate  or  pre- 
meditated action,  in  which  any  one  above  the  meanest 
vulgar  was  concerned.  Scuilabogue  is  situated  nt  the 
foot  of  the  eminence  of  Carrickbyrne,  whither  the  in- 
surgents defeated  at  Ross  retreated,  as  has  been  observed, 
and  upon  being  made  acquainted  with  the  enormity, 
which  all  brave  men  must  reprobate,  they  universally  and 
loudly  expressed  their  horror  and  detestation  of  the 
barbarous  deed !  Surely,  it  is  easy  to  conceive  that  the 
men  who  had  so  lately  displayed  such  a  dauntless  spirit 
®f  courage  and  consummate  bravery,  could  not  be  destitute 
of  its  general  concomitant — humanity.  To  counteract 
tne  reports  of  religious  intolerance,  it  must  be  stated, 
itaat  fifteen  or  sixteen  Catholics  snare  in  the  sorrowful 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


eatastrophe  of  Scullabogne,  whence  only  two  Protestants 
and  one  Catholic  providentially  escaped,  it  must  be 
universally  allowed,  that  robbers  and  murderers  enter- 
tain no  reverence,  as  they  feel  no  awe  of  religion,  hi  the 
commission  of  their  nefarious  acts;  and  I  am  confident 
from  all  I  can  learn  of  the  melancholy  horrors  of 
Scullabogue.  that  nothing  less  than  the  signal  inter- 
ference of  Providence  can  be  considered  capable  of 
having  saved  any  person  who  was  within  the  ill-fated 
barn  on  the  dreadful  day  of  its  conflagration !  An 
investigation  of  this  horrid  transaction  had  been  firmly 
determined  on,  which  subsequent  events  prevented 
from  being  carried  into  execution.  It-  were  much  to  be 
wished  such  an  inquiry  had  taken  place,  as  it  would 
afford  no  room  for  misrepresentation.  On  the  day 
following,  a  proclamation,  in  the  form  of  resolutions  by 
the  whole  insurgent  army,  was  published  by  the  com- 
mander-in-chief, signed  by  himself,  and  countersigned 
by  the  adjutant -general,  with  intention  to  curb  all 
excesses  against  life  and  property,  and  encouraging  by 
every  possible  means  union  and  harmony  among  all 
descriptions  of  the  people.  I  deem  it  necessary  to  insert 
it,  and  here  accordingly  it  follows: — 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  general  and  several  officers  of 
the  united  army  of  the  county  of  Wexford,  the  follow- 
ing resolutions  were  agreed  upon  : 

M  Resolved — That  the  commander-in-chief  shall  send 
guards  to  certain  baronies,  for  the -purpose  of  bringing 
in  all  men  they  shall  rind  loitering  and  delaying  at  home 
or  elsewhere  ;  and  if  any  resistance  be  given  to  those 
guards,  so  to  be  sent  by  the  commanding  officer's  orders, 
it  is  our  desire  and  orders  that  such  persons  so  giving 
resistance  shall  be  liable  to  be  put  to  death  by  the  guards, 
who  are  to  bear  a  commission  for  that  purpose ;  and  all 
such  persons  found  to  be  so  loitering  and  delaying  at 
home,  when  brought  in  by  the  guards,  shall  be  tried  by 
a  court-martial,  appointed  and  chosen  from  among  the 
commanders  of  all  the  different  corps,  and  be  punished 
with  death. 

"  Resolved — "That  all  officers  shall  immediately  repair 
to  their  respective  quarters,  and  remain  with  their  diifer- 
ent  corps,  and  not  depart  therefrom  under  pain  of  death, 


138 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


unless  authorized  to  quit  by  written  orders  from  the 
commander-in-chief  for  that  purpose. 

**  It  is  aiso  ordered,  that  a  guard  shall  be  kept  in  rear 
of  the  different  armies,  with  orders  to  shoot  all  persons 
who  shall  ffy  or  desert  from  any  engagement  \  and  thaB 
these  orders  shall  be  taken  notice  of  by  all  officers  com- 
manding in  such  engagement. 

*'  Ail  men  refusing  to  obey  their  superior  officers,  to 
be  tried  by  a  court-martial  and  punished  according  to 
their  sentence. 

"  It  is  also  ordered,  that  all  men  who  shall  attempt  to 
leave  their  respective  quarters  when  they  have  been 
halted  by  the  commander-in-chief,  shail  suffer  death, 
unless  they  shall  have  leave  from  their  officers  for  so 
doing. 

"It  is  ordered  by  the  commander-in-chief,  that  all 
persons  who  have  stolen  or  taken  away  any  horse  or 
horses,  shall  immediately  bring  in  all  such  horses  to  the 
camp,  at  head-quarters;  otherwise  for  any  horse  that 
shall  be  seen  or  found  in  the  possession  of  any  person  to 
whom  lie  does  not  belong,  that  person  shall,  on  being 
convicted  thereof,  suffer  death. 

And  any  goods  that  shall  have  been  plundered  from 
any  house,  if  not  brought  in  to  head-quarters,  or  retur- 
ned immediately  to  the  houses  or  owners,  that  all  per- 
sons so  plundering  as  aforesaid,  shall  on  being  convic- 
ted thereof,  suffer  death. 

"It  is  also  resolved,  that  any  person  cr  persons  who 
shall  take  upon  them  to  kill  or  murder  any  person  or 
prisoner,  burn  any  house,  or  commit  any  plunder, 
without  special  written  orders  from  the  commander-in- 
chief,  shall  suffer  death. 

*  1  By  order  of 
"B.  B.  Harvey,  commander-in-chief, 
Francis  Breen,  sec.  and  adj. 

"  Head-quarters,  Carrickbyme 
camp,  June  6th,  1798. ' 

A  proclamation  of  similar  tendency  was  issued  at 
IVexford  on  the  7th,  addressed  to  the  insurgent  arrnieJ 
by  General  Edward  Roche,  conceived  in  the  following 
frords : 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


139 


"TO  THE  l»EOPLE  OF  IRELAND. 

"  Countrymen  and  fellow-soldiers  I  your  patriotic  ex- 
ertions in  the  cause  of  your  country  have  hitherto  ex- 
ceeded our  most  sanguine  expectations,  and  in  a  short 
time  must  ultimately  be  crowned  with  success.  Liberty 
has  raised  her  drooping  head  :  thousands  daily  flock  to 
her  standard  :  the  voice  of  her  children  every  where 
prevails.  Let  us  then,  in  the  moment  of  triumph,  re- 
turn thanks  to  the  Almighty  Ruler  of  the  universe,  that 
a  total  stop  has  been  put  to  those  sanguinary  measures 
"which  of  late  were  but  too  often  resorted  to  by  the  crea- 
tures of  government,  to  keep  the  people  in  slavery. 

*'  Nothing  now,  my  countrymen,  appears  necessary  to 
secure  the  conquests  you  have  already  won,  but  an  im- 
plicit obedience  to  the  commands  of  your  chiefs;  for 
through  a  want  of  proper  subordination  and  discipline, 
all  may  be  endangered. 

"  At  tliis  eventful  period,  all  Europe  must  admire,  and 
posterity  wiil  read  with  astonishment,  the  heroic  acts 
achieved  by  people  strangers  to  military  tactics,  and 
having  few  professional  commanders — but  what  power 
can  resist  men  fighting  for  liberty  ! 

"In  the  moment  of  triumph,  my  countrymen,  let  not 
your  victories  be  tarnished  with  any  wanton  act  of  cru- 
elty :  many  of  those  unfortunate  men  now  in  prison  were 
not  your  enemies  from  principle  ;  most  of  them  com- 
pelled by  necessity,  were  obliged  to  oppose  you  :  neither 
let  a  difference  in  religious  sentiments  cause  a  difference 
among  the  people.  Recur  to  the  debates  in  the  Irish 
house  of  lords  on  the  19th  of  February  last;  you  will 
there  see  a  patriotic  and  enlightened  Protestant  bishop, 
(Down)  and  many  of  the  lay  lords,  with  manly  eloquence 
pleading  for  Catholic  emancipation  and  parliamentary 
reform,  in  opposition  to  the  haughty  arguments  of  the 
iord  chancellor,  and  the  powerful  opposition  of  his  fel- 
low-courtiers. 

**  To  promote  a  union  of  brotherhood  and  affection 
among  our  countrymen  of  all  religious  persuasions,  has 
been  our  principal  object :  we  have  sworn  in  the  most 
solemn  manner — have  associated  for  this  laudable  pur- 
pose, and  no  power  on  earth  siiaii  shake  our  resolution 


140 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


"To  my  Protestant  soldiers  I  feel  much  indebted  fo* 
their  gallant  behaviour  in  the  field,  where  they  exhibited 
signal  proofs  of  bravery  in  the  cause. 

"  Edward  Roche. 

44  Wexford,  June  7,  1798.'" 

I  should  have  mentioned  before,  that  in  the  evening  of 
the  day  on  which  the  insurgents  obtained  possession  of 
Enniscorthy,  a  drummer  of  the  North  Cork  militia,  who 
had  some  time  before  refused  to  beat  his  drum,  when 
gome  tune,  obnoxious  to  the  people,  was  called  for,  or  to 
whip  some  of  the  prisoners,  was  found  hanging  in  the 
lodgings  of  Mr.  Handcock,  a  clergyman  and  magistrate, 
who  resided  in  that  town  !  When  this  fact  became  gene- 
rally known,  it  is  impossible  to  conceive  the  indignation 
and  fury  it  excited  in  the  minds  of  the  people,  already 
flushed  with  victory  and  heated  by  intoxication.  They 
considered  the  murdered  soldier  as  a  victim  immolated 
to  their  cause ;  'they  conceived  he  had  met  that  fate  to 
which  they  were  all  doomed  unless  they  had  risen 
against  extermination.  The  more  violent  were  those 
\*ho  themselves  or  their  friends  had  suffered  most  se- 
turely,  previous  to  the  insurrection,  and  they  instantly 
took  advantage  of  the  ferment  occasioned  by  this  cir- 
cumstance, to  wreak  their  vengeance  on  those  they  con- 
sidered their  enemies,  who  still  remained  in  the  town 
after  it  had  been  evacuated  by  the  military.  Many  were 
put  to  death  in  consequence,  notwithstanding  that  the 
more  sensible  and  humane  part  endeavoured  to  protect 
the  unhappy  sufferers,  but  the  voices  of  those  were 
drowned  in  the  general  cry  of  44  They  would  not  let  one 
of  us  escape  if  we  were  in  their  power — we  would  be  all 
served  like  the  drummer."  I  have  heard  many  who 
were  present  when  this  horrid  scene  took  place,  affirm 
that  this  incident  produced  an  effect  more  violent  and 
instantaneous,  and  excited  a  degree  of  frenzy  superior  to 
any  thing  they  had  witnessed  during  the  insurrection, 
(t  is  evident  from  every  day's  experience,  that  causes 
insignificant  in  themselves  do  sometimes  produce  effects 
the  most  lamentable ;  and  that  artful  men  take  advan- 
lage  of  such  incidents  in  all  tumultuary  proceedings ; 
and  considering  the  state  of  mind  of  the  populace  at  this 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


HI 


moment,  the  knowledge  of  such  a  fact  must  have  had  a 
powerful  operation.  It  is  remarkable  that  Mr.  N.  Hin- 
tou's  house,  in  which  the  drummer  was  found  hanging, 
received  no  injury  from  the  people,  as  they  considered 
him  innocent  of  this  abomination. 

While  the  insurgents  kept  possession  of  the  town  of 
Enniscorthy,  another  circumstance  occurred,  which  pro- 
duced much  mischief.  The  cavalry  of  Xewtownoarry 
made  an  inroad  towards  the  insurgents'  camp,  as  far  as 
the  bridge  of  Scarawalsh,  which  is  three  miles  from  En- 
niscorthy, and  at  this  place  killed  a  boy  who  was  an 
idiot:  he  happened  to  be  the  nephew  of  a  Catholic  priest 
in  the  neighbourhood  ;  and  the  killing  of  this  creature, 
who  never  could  have  made  use  of  hostile  weapons,  pro- 
duced a  violent  ferment  which  was  not  appeased  until 
the  people  sacrificed  (as  if  to  his  manes)  twelve  or  four- 
teen  of  their  prisoners.  These  facts,  if  any  are  wanting, 
show  the  impolicy  and  wickedness  of  shedding  blood  un* 
necessarily,  even  in  the  fury  of  war.  The  principle  of 
retaliation  is  strongly  implanted  in  the  human  heart, 
and  therefore  all  unnecessary  irritation  should  be  sedu- 
lously avoided. 

A  Guinea  cutter  having  struck  against  the  banks  of 
jBlackwater,  unshipped  her  rudder  outside  the  bay  of 
Wexford,  where  she  cast  anchor ;  and  the  captain  on 
entering  the  harbour  to  get  it  repaired,  was  met  by  one 
of  the  cruising  boats,  and  the  vessel  was  accordingly 
seized  and  brought  in  as  a  prize.  Her  burthen  was 
forty-five  tons,  she  was  copper-bottomed,  had  six  small 
cannon,  and  her  crew  were  eight  men.  She  was  an  at- 
tendant on  a  Guinea-man,  sailed  from  Liverpool  a  few 
days  before,  had  not  yet  received  her  small  arms  on  board, 
but  had  three  barrels  of  gunpowder,  without  which  the 
insurgents  woulc  have  been  totally  destitute  of  that  arti 
ele,  as  the  three  barrels  they  found  in  Wexford  barracks, 
with  a  few  hundred  cartridges,  some  small  casks  a  ad  odd 
pounds  found  in  different  shops  and  gentlemen's  houses, 
constituted  their  whole  original  stock,  \n  bich  by  this  time 
was  entirely  expended.  It  is,  indeed,  an  extraordinary 
fact,  that  the  insurgents  did  not  possess,  in  the  whole 
course  of  the  iururreetion,  as  much  powder  as  would  be 
deemed  necess.xry  by  any  military  man  tor  the  supply  ol 


142 


HISTORY  OJT  TBK 


one  battle,  and  that  their  gunsmen,  so  little  used  to  war- 
fare, never  retired  until  they  had  fired  their  last  charge, 
exhibiting  on  all  occasions  amazing  intrepidity  j  but  it 
was  impossible  to  furnish  fire-arms  for  the  numbers  otter- 
ing their  services.  In  their  different  encampments  they 
were  mostly  armed  with  pikes,  and  there  was  scarcely  any 
kind  of  regularity  or  order  observed,  every  individual 
absenting  at  his  own  discretion,  so  that  at  night  the 
camps  were  almost  totally  deserted,  but  were  in  the  day 
as  crowded  as  ever.  Although  most  of  the  people  of 
Ireland  can  but  seldom  indulge  in  the  luxury  of  eating 
meat,  yet  as  the  vast  numbers  of  the  insurgents  were 
now  to  be  supplied  with  this  article,  it  became  an  abso- 
lute necessary.  Such  immense  consumption  always  in. 
time  of  war,  even  with  the  strictest  economy,  being 
double  of  the  quantity  that  would  supply  the  like  num- 
bers in  time  of  peace,  must  of  itself  have  soon  deprived 
the  country  of  all  its  cattle  ;  and  yet  this  provision  was 
made  use  of  with  profusion.  Corn  and  potatoes  were 
put  in  requisition  throughout  the  country,  and  Wexford 
was  obliged  at  the  risk  of  being  burnt,  to  furnish  almost 
all  the  other  supplies,  such  as  spirits,  beer,  tobacco,  salt, 
and  leather.  Several  self-appointed  commissaries,  fram- 
ing different  excuses  as  it  were  for  the  advantage  of  the 
public  service,  while  their  principle  was  for  plunder  and 
private  emolument,  absented  themselves  from  camp  and 
became  horrible  public  nuisances.  These  were  the 
cowards  who  fled  in  time  of  action,  and  generally  became 
murderers  and  robbers ;  while  those  who  courageously 
fought  as  brave  men  in  the  field,  always  remained  at 
their  post,  never  absenting  without  leave,  and  although 
Euffering  many  privations,  were  remarkable  for  correct 
behaviour  and  regular  conduct,  the  true  test  of  brave 
men;  but  the  poltroon  cravens,  who  deserted  the  camps 
on  various  pretences,  were  guilty  of  the  most  desperate 
deeds  of  outrage,  though  vauntingly  boastful  of  actions 
of  valour ;  a  fact  which  not  only  confirms  the  general 
position  already  laid  down,  that  cowardice  and  cruelty 
are  constantly  united,  but  also  that  the  vicious  frequently 
affect  the  praises  of  virtue.  While,  the  brave  and  the 
virtuous  were  otherwise  engaged  so  as  not  go  have  it  in 
their  power  to  counteract  the  dcprav:£y  of  the  knave* 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


14S 


Mid  cowards,  a  sad  catalogue  of  victims  suffered  at  th« 
permanent  camp  on  Vinegar  Hill ;  being  declared  ene- 
mies of  the  people,  on  the  accusation  of  one  or  more  per- 
sons, for  different  alleged  acts  of  cruelty  or  opposition  to 
their  interests  ;  and,  on  these  occasions,  it  was  almost 
impossible  to  stem  the  torrent  of  popular  fury  ;  so  that 
the  conductors  and  accusers  of  the  summary  trials,  thus 
proceeded  upon,  were  in  very  many  instances  but  too 
successful  in  their  schemes  of  murder ;  notwithstanding 
the  strenuous  endeavours,  and  the  earnest  entreaties  and 
remonstrances  to  the  contrary  of  every  humane  and  re- 
spectable person  permitted  to  appear  in  their  assemblage. 
Of  these  there  were  many  willing  enough  to  return  to 
their  homes,  who  were  however  prevented  from  appre- 
hension of  being  sacrificed  themselves,  if  they  dared  to 
act  in  any  manner  contrary  to  the  will  of  the  populace. 
It  has  been  confidently  asserted,  and  too  strongly  incul- 
cated, that  the  insurgents  were  resolved  to  sacrifice  all 
Protestants ;  of  this  the  best  refutation  is,  that  had  this 
been  their  principle  or  intention,  the  accomplishment 
was  in  their  power,  and  the  avoiding  its  perpetration  at 
the  angry  and  exasperated  moment  must  be  considered 
conclusive  in  opposite  argument.  Indeed,  it  is  too  evi- 
dent that  this  falsehood  lias  been  industriously  impressed 
for  the  purpose  of  fostering  prejudice,  and  of  continuing 
baleful  division  among  the  several  descriptions  of  the 
people,  by  political  adventurers,  who  shamefully  encour- 
age and  foment  those  animosities  which  have  brought  so 
much  calamity  and  ruin  on  the  country;  of  which,  if 
any  Irishman  requires  further  proof,  the  eventful  history 
of  his  country  since  the  period  of  1798  is  abundantly 
convincing  ;  and  I  fondly  hope  the  charitable  discrimina- 
tion of  all  Irishmen  will  induce  them  to  abandon  their 
prejudices,  and  cultivate  a  friendly  intercourse  with  each 
other,  and  I  am  confident  they  will  find  this  line  of  con- 
duct connected  and  congenial  with  their  interests  and 
happiness,  as  it  will  prevent  their  being  cajoled  or 
worked  up  at  any  future  period  to  mutual  rancour,  to 
answer  the  ends  of  political  seducers,  as  the  destruction 
of  their  country  must  be  the  consequence.  All  Protes- 
tants who  had  the  good-will  of  their  neighbours,  and  who 
had  uot  adventured  in  the  hanging,  burning,  flogging, 


144 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


•hooting,  and  exterminating  system  that  immediately 
preceded  the  insurrection,  were  in  general  as  safe  as  any 
other  description  of  men  in  the  country  on  joining  the 
people,  for  as  to  this  there  was  no  alternative :  but  it 
must  be  acknowledged,  indeed,  that  many  gentlemen 
who  had  oeen  formerly  much  liked,  were  considered  as 
unpardonable  if  concerned  in  any  exertion  against  the 
people  of  the  description  just  cited,  particular  instances 
of  which  alleged  against  them  occasioned  the  imprison- 
ment and  death  of  individuals.  It  is  asserted,  that  no 
Otl'olic  was  put  to  death.  Surely,  the  indiscriminate 
ip*H\\?+i.:m  at  Scullabogue,  where  fifteen  or  sixteen 
Caihoncs  perished  with  the  rest  in  the  flames,  suffi- 
ciently refutes  this  barefaced  assertion  ;  but  as  the  public 
mind  has  been  so  misled,  I  deem  it  absolutely  necessary 
to  state  other  facts  that  give  the  lie  to  surmise,  which, 
among  the  general  excesses  of  the  day,  would  not  other- 
wise deserve  historical  notice.  Two  Catholics  were  put 
to  death  bv  the  people  in  Wexford— Francis  Murphy  on 
the  3d.  and  Joseph  Murphy  on  the  14th  of  June,  both  for 
being  informers.  Certainly  if  any  Catholics  had  launched 
forward  in  the  prevalent  mode  of  suppressing  insurrec- 
tion, namely,  violation,  flagellation,  conflagration,  deli, 
berate  murder  and  extermination,  they  would  have  in- 
curred equal  odium  with  any  Protestant,  or  even  infidel, 
guilty  of  the  like  deeds.  Catholics,  however,  not  being 
of  the  privileged  class  (not  even  one  Catholic  justice  of 
peace  in  the  county,)  and  therefore  not  having  the  power 
if  they  had  the  inclination,  could  not  be  generally  in- 
volved with  the  people,  on  the  score  of  authority  or 
oppression,  and  this  may  satisfactorily  account  why  so 
few  Catholics,  comparatively  with  Protestants,  were 
sacrificed  to  popular  frenzy  and  irritation.  In  all  the 
proclamations  and  other  documents  published  during  the 
insurrection,  there  does  not  appear  the  smallest  symptom 
of  religious  bigotry  :  the  very  contrary  is  even  manifest ; 
but  should  it  be  any  longer  insisted  on,  that  the  conduct 
and  expressions  of  solitary  individuals  unequivocally 
discountenanced  by  the  great  majority,  were  the  senti- 
ments of  the  whole  people,  it  must  be  stated  in  opposition, 
and  the  argument  would  be  just  as  fair,  that  the  Protes- 
tants had  resolved  on  the  extermination  of  the  Catholics 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


143 


as  some  individuals  of  them  have  expressed  themselves 
favourable  to  such  a  measure,  and  have  lamented  the 
arrival  of  Lord  Cornwallis  in  Ireland,  as  in  their  mind 
it  prevented  the  extirpation  of  the  whole  of  the  insur- 
gents, by  them  denominated  Cuth.rfics.  These  senti- 
ments have  been  so  notorious  as  to  rind  utterance  even  in 
parliament. 

During  the  whole  period  of  the  insurrection  in  the 
county  ot*  Wexford,  it  is  a  fact  no  less  surprising  than 
true,  that  the  fair  sex  was  respected  even  by  those  who 
did  not  hesitate  to  rob  or  murder  ;  no  one  instance  ex- 
isting of  a  female  being  injured  or  violated,  including  the 
wives,  sisters,  and  daughters  of  those  denominated  the 
greatest  enemies  of  the  people,  in  whose  conduct  appears 
another  very  striking  feature  :  with  respect  to  the  king, 
they  were  silent — his  majesty's  name  was  not  mentioned 
with  disrespect,  nor  was  he  considered  as  the  cause  of 
their  misfortunes ;  but  indeed  they  preserved  no  such 
delicacy  with  respect  to  the  characters  of  those  whom 
they  considered  the  promoters  and  supporters  of  their 
persecutions  :  they  reviled  them  in  the  strongest  terms 
of  reprobation,  and  did  not  spare  many  of  their  lives  or 
properties. 

Incase  of  plunder  I  believe  no  person  was  spared  that 
was  not  at  home  to  prevent  it,  or  who  was  not  fortunate 
enough  to  have  a  confidential  person  to  welcome  the 
marauders,  who  pleaded  the  public  service  in  excuse  of 
robbery  and  outrage ;  but  meat  and  drink,  if  freely  of- 
fered and  supplied,  generally  preserved  a  house  from 
otherwise  inevitable  direption.  On  these  occasions,  Ca- 
tholics and  Protestants  were  alike  subject  to  depredation. 
I  possessed  perhaps  as  much  popularity  as  any  person  in 
the  county  of  Wexford,  and  notwithstanding  this  and  my 
being  a  Catholic,  I  was  plundered  by  the  insurgent-  in 
the  very  outset :  I  lost  all  that  could  possibly  be  taken 
from  me ;  my  doors  and  windows  were  broken  open  to 
get  at  my  guns  and  pistols  ;  my  desks  and  trunks  were 
searched  and  rifled  ;  my  horses  and  mules  were  all  rode 
oil';  and  for  this  and  the  like  robberies  the  depredators 
Would  plead  the  public  service.  Several  persons  who  had 
been  much  disliked  by  the  populace,  had  the  good  for- 
tune to  possess  faithful  servants,  who  by  a  free  offer  o< 


m 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


what  was  wanted  in  the  house,  saved  all  the  rest ;  while 
many  others  who  were  much  beloved  by  the  people,  suf- 
fered considerably  in  their  houses  and  properties,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  dishonesty  of  those  who  were  left  in  care 
of  them,  as  they  countenanced  and  encouraged  pillage, 
in  hopes  thereby  to  screen  their  own  villainy,  in  appro, 
priating  to  themselves  the  best  and  most  valuable  part  of 
the  plunder. 

Great  numbers  crowded  into  Wefxord  from  the  differ- 
ent camps  and  other  parts  of  the  country  demanding  sup- 
plies of  salt,  tobacco,  spirits,  and  leather ;  threatening  to 
set  fire  to  the  town  in  case  of  resistance  or  want  of  im- 
mediate compliance.  The  mode  adopted  in  managing 
the  supplies  was,  that  the  committee  issued  orders  to 
those  possessing  any  of  the  articles  in  demand,  to  furnish 
the  same  in  a  specified  quantity  ;  but  the  frequency  of  ap- 
plication so  multiplied  their  employment,  that  it  was  not 
possible  for  them  to  attend  to  all  the  various  business  that 
accumulated  upon  them  ;  and  finding  themselves  unequal 
to  the  task,  they  were  obliged  to  call  for  assistance,  and 
a  separate  committee  for  each  article  in  demand  was  con- 
sequently appointed.  To  please  the  lower  classes,  who 
had  expressed  dissatisfaction,  some  of  them  were  now 
associated  with  those  of  higher  rank,  in  this  discharge  of 
public  duty,  the  trouble  and  vexation  of  which  they  had 
no  conception  of  until  they  shared  in  the  labour,  where- 
by those  originally  appointed  were  greatly  relieved,  and 
the  common  people  henceforward  proved  less  troublesome 
to  them,  as  their  compeers  and  companions  were  more 
successful  in  their  arguments,  to  persuade  them  of  the 
great  difficulty  of  supplying  them  in  as  large  quantities 
as  before,  and  so  reconciling  them  to  accept  of  less.  Va- 
rious plunder  took  place  on  the  insurgents  taking  pos- 
session of  the  town,  great  part  of  which  was  afterwards 
restored,  as  orders  were  issued  that  all  kinds  of  property 
not  belonging  to  those  in  whose  possession  it  mi^ht  be 
found,  should  be  returned  on  pain  of  severe  punishment. 
The  court-house  in  Wexford  was  the  depository  for  such 
property,  which  the  owners  recovered  on  making  their 
claim. 

The  peace  and  quietness  existing  in  the  town  of  Wex- 
ford during  the  insurrection,  except  the  little  disturbance 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


147 


u%w  and  again  occasioned  by  the  vociferous  comrnistarioi 
from  the  camps,  was  very  remarkable.  At  night  parti- 
cularly, the  most  solemn  silence  continually  prevailed,  as 
all  the  inhabitants  retired  early  to  rest,  ant)  the  utmost 
regularity  of  conduct  and  peaceable  behaviour  was  ob^ 
served.  The  weather  was  remarkably  warm  and  se- 
rene, and  the  physicians  in  town  apprehended  a  conta- 
gious gaol  fever  from  the  numbers  in  confinement.  Among 
the  several  expedients  to  remedy  this  evil,  it  was  sug- 
gested to  make  the  church  a  lodgment  for  prisoners,  be- 
ing considered  a  healthy  and  eligible  situation,  and  then 
deserted  by  the  Protestants  as  their  place  of  worship; 
but  this  scheme  was  warmly  and  effectually  opposed  by 
the  principal  Catholics,  as  it  might  be  deemed  disrespect- 
ful to  the  seat  of  the  Protestant  worship,  while  those  of 
the  latter  persuasion  were  eager  and  urgent  to  have  it  so 
occupied,  in  order  as  they  said,  to  thin  the  crowds  con- 
lined  in  the  common  prison.  As  a  substitute  for  this  dis- 
appointment, the  assembly-room  was  then  reported  to, 
and  fifty  of  the  prisoners  were  confined  there,  while 
twenty-four  of  the  principal  gentlemen  were  sent  or. 
board  a  sloop  in  the  harbour,  which  had  been  fitted  out 
for  that  purpose.  Another  sloop  had  been  also  intended 
for  like  occupancy,  but  soon  ^ndemned  as  unfit  for  that 
service. 

To  endeavour  to  please  the  people,  who  were  very  vo- 
ciferous against  all  those  they  considered  as  occasioning 
the  cruelties  practised  against  them,  the  following  pro- 
clamation was  issued : — 

PROCLAMATION  OF  THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  COUNTY  OF 
WEXFORD. 

11  Whereas  it  stands  manifestly  notorious,  that  James 
Boyd,  Hawtrey  White,  Hunter  Gowan,  and  Archibald 
Hamilton  Jacob,  late  magistrates  of  this  county,  have 
Committed  the  most  horrid  acts  of  cruelty,  violence  and 
oppression  against  our  peaceable  and  well-disposed  coun- 
trymen :  now  we  the  people  associa  ted  and  united  for  the 
purpose  of  procuring  our  just  rights,  and  neing  deter, 
mined  to  protect  the  persons  and  properties  01  those  of  aU 
religious  persuasions,  who  have  not  oppressed  us,  and 
Are  willing  to  join  with  heart  and  hand  our  glorious 


148 


HISTORT  OF  THE 


cause ;  as  well  as  to  show  our  marked  disapprobation 
and  horror  of  the  crimes  of  the  above  delinquents,  do 
caii  on  our  countrymen  at  large,  to  use  every  exertion  in 
their  power  to  apprehend  the  bodies  of  the  aforesaid 
James  Boyd,  Hawtrey  White,  Hunter  Gowan,  and  Archi- 
bald Hamilton  Jacob,  and  to  secure  and  convey  them  to 
the  jail  of  Wexford,  to  be  brought  before  the  tribunal  of 
the  people.  Done  at  Wexford,  this  9th  day  of  June, 
1798. 

"  God  save  the  people." 

The  camp,  which  had  been  stationed  at  Carrickbyrne, 
removed  to  Slykielter,  where  the  encampment  continued 
for  a  few  days,  while  nothing  remarkable  happened,  ex- 
cept some  ineffectual  attacks  that  were  made  on  the  gun- 
boats, going  up  the  Barrow  from  Passage  to  Koss  ;  and 
a  mail  was  taken,  going  from  Ross  to  Waterford  by  water, 
and  sent  to  Wexford. 

The  country  was  so  guarded  in  every  quarter  as  to 
have  a  party  stationed  at  every  cross-road,  and  this  ser- 
vice was  allotted  to  the  old  and  infirm,  or  such  as  were 
incapable  of  bearing  the  fatigue  of  marching  ;  but  they 
were  also  attended  by  many  others  who  absented  them- 
selves from  the  camps  on  various  pretences :  some  women 
and  children  were  likewise  to  be  seen  at  these  several 
posts ;  and  the  vigilance  was  such,  that  no  person  could 
pass  unknown,  nor  was  it  possible  to  be  at  liberty  and 
be  considered  neuter ;  notwithstanding  all  the  boastful 
Vauntings  to  the  contrary  of  some  who  think  to  recom- 
mend themselves  by  these  impositions.  I  am  confident 
Such  assertions  are  utterly  unfounded,  for  certainly  no 
person  could  remain  at  liberty  who  was  not  considered 
friendly  to  the  people;  yet  still  I  am  far  from  being  of 
©pinion,  that  every  person  who  joined  the  insurgents 
acted  from  cordial  motives,  however  professing  great  zeal 
and  alacrity  in  the  cause  ;  but  the  imperious  necessity  of 
the  times  was  such,  as  to  induce  numbers  to  humour  the 
people  so  far,  as  not  to  say  or  do  anything  that  might  in 
any  degree  be  construed  as  opposition  to  them  ;  and  any 
impartial  person  must  be  convinced  on  a  fair  inquiry  into 
She  nature  of  popular  commotion,  that  it  would  be  imp- 
ossible to  control  the  actions  af  a  multitude-  under  svoh 


IRISH  REBELLION'. 


149 


Cireti instances  as  then  existed  in  the  county  of  Wexford  : 
i  n  i  ritated  populace  becoming  masters  of  a  country,  are 
ever  ungovernable  ;  and,  indeed,  those  who  vaunt  most 
at  pr  sent  of  not  having  yielded  to  them,  were  more  than 
any  others  profuse  in  their  professions,  and  have  gone 
farther  than  those  whom  they  now  revile  in  the  most  un 
justifiable  manner.  Some  also  who  were  thus  involved, 
having  (led  the  country  early,  now  pretend  to  ask,  why 
an  escape  was  not  effected  by  such  as  were  not  well  in 
clined  to  the  cause  of  the  insurgents,  if  not  in  confine- 
ment ?  Although  it  may  not  have  been  altogether  im- 
possible, yet  it  was  not  very  probable,  that  any  one  could 
get  out  of  the  country  without  the  consent  of  the  people, 
which  must  have  been  obtained  by  imposing  on  them  by 
the  pretence  of  friendship,  to  whom  the  person  must 
shortly  after  have  appeared  a  traitor,  (a  character  not 
very  enviable,  under  the  most  favourable  circumstances,) 
which  conduct  would  have  endangered  the  safety  of  his 
family  and  his  friends,  if  he  had  any,  as  well  as  that  of 
his  property  ;  so  that  I  think  it  reasonable  to  suppose, 
thaf those  who  urge  this  argument  would  not  have  at- 
tempted an  escape,  were  they  in  the  place  of  those  whose 
conduct  they  scrutinize. 

A  pitched  cap  being  found  in  the  barrack  of  Wexford, 
and  an  orange  commission  or  warrant  appointing  a  ser- 
geant of  the  North  Cork  militia  to  found  an  orange  lodge 
in  the  town,  roused  the  people  from  the  utmost  tranquil- 
lity to  the  highest  pitch  of  fury.  This  quickly  drew  to- 
gether great  numbers  in  the  barrack-yard,  and  their 
horror  of  the  orange  system  was  so  excited,  that  in  :hose 
emblems  they  imagined  they  possessed  the  most  con- 
vincing proof  of  their  intended  extermination.  After  a 
variety  of  confused  exclamations  against  the  promoters, 
it  was  resolved  to  clap  the  pitched  cap  on  the  head  of  the 
orange  lord,  who.  they  said,  had  been  the  introducer  of 
that  system  in  the  county  of  Wexford.  They  according- 
ly proceeded  from  the  barrack,  exhibiting  the  pitched 
cap  on  the  top  of  a  pike,  displaying  at  the  same  time  the 
orange  commission  or  warrant,  and  were  in  direct  march, 
with  violent  shouts  of  exultation,  to  Lord  Kingsbo rough's 
lodging.  I  was  in  the  act  of  bathing  at  the  time,  and 
hearing  the  tumultuous  noise,  I  dressed  quickly  and 


150 


HISTORY  OF  TmS 


arrived  at  the  house  alorg  with  them.  I  went  up  to 
Lord  Kingsborough's  room  and  sought  to  appease  the 
multitude  by  addressing  them  from  the  window ;  but 
this  was  not  effected  till  many  of  the  principal  inhabi- 
tants were  brought  to  the  scene  of  tumult;  when  one  of 
them,  on  pretence  of  looking  at  the  pitched  cap,  took  and 
threw  it  over  the  quay,  and  the  hated  emblem  being  no 
longer  in  view,  the  fury  of  the  people  abated,  the  orange 
commission  or  warrant  was  taken  from  them,  and  they  dis- 
persed ;  nor  was  there  anything  more  heard  of  the  affair 
until  the  next  morning,  when  the  captain  of  the  guard 
for  the  day  (having  everything  previously  arranged  and 
ready,  after  parade,  when  all  others  had  retired  to  break- 
fast, and  on  his  own  mere  authority,)  took  down  Lord 
Kingsborough  and  his  two  officers  to  the  quay,  and  con- 
ducted them  on  board  the  ship  that  had  been  fitted  out  but 
condemned,  where  he  provided  them  with  abundance  of 
fresh  straw,  and  placed  a  detachment  of  his  guard  over 
them.  All  this  was  executed  with  such  haste  and  pre- 
caution, that  it  was  not  for  some  time  known  to  the  prin- 
cipal inhabitants.  These,  however,  on  hearing  of  the  af- 
fair, assembled  and  appealed  to  the  people,  then  collected 
to  know  what  was  the  matter.  They  represented  to 
them,  that  as  these  officers  had  surrendered  on  condition 
of  being  treated  as  prisoners  of  war,  they  ought  not  to 
be  confined  on  board  a  condemned  ship ;  and  the  conse- 
quence was  that  two  boat-loads  of  butchers  were  sent  on 
board  to  examine  and  inspect  the  state  of  the  vessel,  on 
whose  report  that  she  was  not  fit  for  a  pig  to  be  confined 
in#  Lord  Kingsborough  and  his  officers  were  brought  back 
to  their  former  situation,  where  they  remained  until  the 
surrender  of  the  town  ;  the  vessel  was  then  hauled 
into  the  harbour,  where  she  sunk  within  a  foot  of  her 
fleck. 

From  the  great  heat  and  violence  of  the  people  against 
Lord  Kingsborough,  in  consequence  of  reports  of  his 
cruelty  and  exertions  in  flogging,  and  the  other  modes 
previously  practised  for  quieting  the  people,  different* 
parties,  from  town  and  country,  frequently  proceeded  to 
the  house  where  he  was  confined,  with  an  intention  of 
putting  him  to  death;  but  the  guards  always  refused 
to  give  him  out  to  them  without  an  order,  ami  during 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


152 


the  delay  thus  occasioned,  providentially  for  his  lordship, 
one  or  othei  of  the  principal  inhabitants  usually  came  up, 
and  by  representing  the  conditions  which  had  been  pro- 
mised him  on  surrendering,  they  prevailed  on  the  people 
to  depart.  Considering  the  great  fury  of  the  people 
against  Lord  Kingsborough  for  his  previous  violent  exer- 
tions, being  reported  very  cruel  and  sanguinary,  his 
escape  must  be  considered  really  wonderful,  if  not  truly 
astonishing;  and  I  can  account  for  it  in  no  other  manner, 
than  that  the  county  of  Wexford  not  having  been  hia 
scene  of  action,  and  there  existing  no  kind  of  commu- 
nication with  any  other  quarter,  there  could  not  possibly 
be  any  positive  proof  adduced  of  his  actions,  except  in 
a  solitary  instance,  which  was  easily  got  over.  His  lord- 
ship had  been,  previous  to  his  imprisonment,  but  a  very 
short  time  in  Wexford,  as  he  left  that  town  in  two  or 
three  days  after  he  had  marched  into  it  with  his  regiment. 
But  some  of  his  officers  had  observed  a  lady  at  a  window, 
viewing  the  troops  as  they  came  in,  who  attracted  their 
particular  notice.  After  dinner,  at  which  the  bottle  had 
pretty  freely  circulated,  the  recollection  of  the  sight  of 
this  lady  had  so  far  worked  on  the  minds  of  some  of  the 
lads,  that  they  proposed  to  sally  forth  and  endeavour  to 
obtain  a  nearer  view  of  her ;  and  Lord  Kingsborough, 
being  a  young  man  himself,  humoured  the  frolic,  and 
accompanied  them.  Not  gaining  admittance,  however, 
as  they  expected,  they  in  the  military  style  resolved  to 
storm  the  premises;  and  his  lordship,  being  a  tall,  athletic 
man,  raised  one  of  the  officers  on  his  shoulders,  who  was 
thereby  enabled,  as  the  house  was  low,  to  get  in  through 
a  window  in  the  second  story.  The  lady's  husband  was 
absent,  and  herself  quite  alone  in  the  house,  but  on  per- 
ceiving  their  intentions  she  got  out  by  a  back-window, 
and  thus  eluded  their  design,  as  well  as  put  an  end  to 
any  further  progress  in  this  adventure.  When  his  lord- 
ship afterward  became  a  prisoner,  this  was  quoted  as  an 
unfavourable  circumstance,  but  it  was  obviated  with  little 
difficulty  by  an  argument,  (not  at  all  intending  to  throw 
the  least  reflection  on  the  lady's  character,)  which  was, 
that  her  husband  was  himself  a  prisoner  with  the  people, 
against  whom,  therefore,  the  offence  could  never  have 
been  intended,  as  no  attempt  of  the  kind  had  been  mad« 


152 


HlSTORt  OF  THE 


on  any  of  their  wives  or  families,  but  was  ait  insult  offered 
by  one  whom  they  called  an  enemy,  to  another  whom 
they  thought  deserving  of  the  same  appellation.  This 
point  being  thus  settled,  and  all  other  accusations  against 
his  lordship  being  general,  they^  were  the  more  easily 
overcome;  but  had  they  been  particular  the  event  might 
have  been  quite  otherwise,  as  the  injured  person  or 
persons,  for  the  most  part,  would  not  listen  to  any  kind 
of  reasoning,  but  obstinately  hold  out  and  persevere  in 
their  accusations  and  complaints,  which  they  so  feelingly 
impressed  on  the  assemblage  of  people  appealed  to  on 
such  occasions,  that  they  usually  gained  over  their  sym- 
pathetic approbation  of  the  measures  they  proposed,  and 
would  thus  succeed  against  all  intercession.  Of  this 
truth  I  had  most  sensible  experience ;  for  although  I 
proved  on  several  occasions  providentially  instrumental  in 
saving  lives,  I  was  utterly  incapable  in  other  instances  : 
particularly  I  found  it  totally  out  of  my  power,  notwith- 
standing the  many  means  I  sought,  to  rescue  my  ever-to- 
be-regretted,  dear,  and  valuable  friend,  Mr.  Turner,  from 
the  fury  of  the  people,  by  whom  he  had  been  previously 
very  much  beloved,  but  all  his  former  popularity  was 
eclipsed  by  his  having  been  unfortunately  worked  up  to 
set  fire  to  sogie  houses;  and  this  being  wejl  known  to  the 
people  of  the  country,  his  safety  became  an  impossibility. 
Taking  the  cases  of  Mr.  Turner  and  Lord  Kingsborough 
in  any  point  of  view,  and  considering  my  frequent  success 
in  preserving  the  man  with  whom  his  misfortune  alone 
made  me  acquainted,  while  my  most  earnest  and  anxious" 
endeavours  to  protect  the  friend  of  my  bosom  were  fatally 
ineffectual,  local  circumstances  alone  can  explain  the  con- 
sequences. But  how  variously  will  prejudice  and  misre- 
presentation detail  and  expatiate  on  such  intricate  facts, 
according  to  the  feeling,  inclination,  or  judgment  of  the 
narrator,  who,  if  he  be  not  a  sensible  or  unbiassed  eye- 
witness, discriminating,  and  dauntless  during  the  period 
of  danger,  or  discerning  in  selection  of  report,  will  after- 
ward display  the  thoughts  of  latent  bigotry,  wilful  per* 
version  of  truth,  or  the  flimsy  tissue  of  hearsay  informa- 
tion, varied  and  altered  into  different  shapes  of  falsehood, 
according  to  the  several  dispositions  of  the  circulators; 
but  ocular  evidence  must  ever  supersede  the  accounts  uf 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


,53 


mmour.  even  of  ever  such  boasted  authenticity,  when 
discrimination  may  be  overpowered  by  terror. 

The  insurgents  in  the  different  camps  being  in  great 
want  of  gunpowder,  without  which  they  could  not  pro- 
ceed, remained  stationary  for  several  days,  as  the  powder 
in  Wexford  was  considered  too  little  for  its  defence,  and 
different  reports  were  circulated,  that  it  was  to  be 
attacked  from  the  southern  quarter.  The  demand  for 
gunpowder,  however,  from  the  camp  on  Gorey  Hill,  was 
so  pressing,  that  a  barrel  of  it  was  sent  thither  from 
Wexford  to  enable  the  insurgents  to  proceed  to  Arklow, 
which,  on  the  defeat  of  Colonel  Walpole,  had  been 
deserted  by  the  military ;  but  the  inhabitants  of  which, 
on  being  left  to  themselves,  remained  quietly  at  home, 
imitating  the  example  that  had  been  set  them  at  Gorey, 
before  the  battle  of  Tubberneering,  when  they  were 
forced  and  overwhelmed  into  the  system  of  the  insurrec- 
tion. The  Cavan  militia  was  ordered  from  Dublin  to 
join  Colonel  Walpole's  division,  then  under  General 
Keedham,  and  they  marched  into  Arklow  on  the  6th  of 
June ;  different  other  parties  of  the  military  arrived 
there  on  the  7th  and  8th,  and  on  the  9th  the  garrison 
was  considerably  reinforced  by  the  Durham  fencibles, 
who  suffered  no  fatigue  in  their  way  from  Dublin,  as 
they  had  been  conveyed  in  carriages  and  jaunting-cars 
pressed  for  that  purpose;  the  whole  force  in  Arklow 
amounted  altogether  to  sixteen  hundred  men.  The 
insurgents  had  marched  from  Gorey  Hill  to  Coolgreny, 
where  arranging  their  mode  of  attatk,  they  proceeded 
in  two  great  columns — one  toward  the  fishery  on  the  sea 
side,  and  the  other  toward  the  upper  end  of  the  town, 
the  attack  being  to  be  made  on  both  ends  of  the  town  at 
once.  The  military,  having  full  notice  of  the  approach, 
were  very  advantageously  posted,  without  which  they 
*2ould  not  have  resisted  the  impetuous  attack  made  upon 
them ;  however  they  were  obliged  to  retire  somewhat 
from  their  original  positions.  In  a  violent  effort  to  gain 
the  upper  end  of  the  town,  the  Rev.  Michael  Murphy, 
who  led  on  the  insurgents  on  that  side,  fell,  and  this 
stopped  the  progress  and  prevented  the  success  of  tha 
attempt.  Variously  did  the  fortune  of  the  day  seem  to 
incline ;  it  is  necessary.,  however,  to  mention  that  ru- 


154 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


mours  of  a  retreat  of  the  troops  were  circulated,  and 
that  orders  were  given,  and  seeming  preparations  made 
for  that  purpose  ;  but  this  still  appears  a  disputed  point, 
and  as  the  proverb  has  it,  "  all  is  well  that  ends  well." 
The  insurgents,  after  having  displayed  singular  bravery, 
courage,  and  intrepidity  as  long  as  their  ammunition 
lasted,  retreated,  when  that  was  expended,  to  their 
former  position  at  Gorey ;  and  thus  ended  the  battle,  &b 
the  very  moment  it  was  alleged  the  army  had  intended 
to  retreat ;  and  most  undoubtedly  my  information  war- 
rants me  to  mention,  that  borne  of  the  military  had 
already  retreated ;  and  I  cannot  positively  say  that  they 
might  not  have  good  authority  for  their  conduct.  Al- 
though the  Rev.  Mr.  Gordon  had  documents  from  under 
the  hand  of  a  distinguished  officer,  Colonel  Bainbridge, 
that  sufficiently  warrants  the  assertion,  it  was,  however, 
generally  circulated  by  many  that  were  in  the  action  ; 
and  as  upon  the  whole  I  would  not  readily  admit  hear- 
say evidence,  but  on  the  clearest  conviction  of  the  truth, 
yet  I  think  my  account  would  be  deficient  if  I  omitted 
to  mention  an  important  fact,  and  upon  which  so  much 
stress  is  laid,  as  related  by  Mr.  Gordon. 

*'  Many  instances  might  be  given  of  men,  who,  at  the 
hazard  of  their  own  lives,  concealed  and  maintained  loy- 
alists until  the  storm  passed  away  ;  on  the  other  hand, 
many  might  be  given  of  cruelties  committed  by  persons 
not  natives  of  Ireland  :  I  shall  mention  only  one  act,  not 
of  what  I  shall  call  cruelty,  since  no  pain  was  inflicted, 
but  ferocity  not  calculated  to  soften  the  rancour  of  the 
insurgents.  Some  soldiers  of  the  ancient  British  regi- 
ment cut  open  the  dead  body  of  Father  Michael  Murphy, 
after  the  battle  of  Arklow,  took  out  his  heart,  roasted 
his  body,  and  oiled  their  boots  with  the  grease  which 
dripped  from  it.  Mr.  George  Taylor,  in  his  historical 
account  of  the  Wexford  rebellion,  (page  136)  says  : — 
'  Lord  Mountnorris  and  some  of  his  troop,  in  viewing 
the  scene  of  action,  found  the  bocjy  of  the  perfidious 
priest  Murphy,  who  so  much  deceived  him  and  the 
country.  Being  exasperated,  his  lordship  ordered  the 
head  to  be  struck  off,  and  his  body  to  be  thrown  into  a 
bouse  that  was  burning,  exclaiming,  ht  Ms  body  go  where 
his  soul  is.'    I  hope  that  the  writer  w**  mLsiuformed,  and 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


that  the  noble  earl,  remarkable  for  his  liberality  to  Ro- 
manists, was  not  the  author  of  this  act." 

The  only  time  I  was  ever  in  company  with  the  priest 
just  mentioned,  certainly  was  at  Lord  Mountnorris's 
house,  in  1797,  when  his  lordship  was  engaged  in  the 
pian  of  procuring  signatures  of  loyalty  from  the  Catho 
lies ;  and  I  understand  that  this  priest  greatly  contri- 
buted to  the  success  of  that  undertaking,  which  was 
afterwards  much  reflected  on,  and  from  the  aspersions 
that  were  thrown  out,  it  was  probably  that  his  lordship 
was  induced  by  this  coup  de  main,  to  prove  to  the  world 
that  he  had  not,  though  he  was  supposed  to  have  been 
a  friend  to  Catholics.  Such  transactions  as  took  place 
on  this  occasion,  it  must  be  observed,  are  the  more  la- 
mentable, not  only  as  they  of  themselves  serve  to  keep 
up  animosity,  but  much  more  so  when  they  are,  not  to 
say  connived  at,  but  even  encouraged  by  persons  of  the 
highest  rank  ;  while  all  persons  of  humanity,  but  even  a 
degree  above  the  lowest  vulgar,  and  even  the  humane  of 
these,  (for  they  are  far  from  being  in  general  destitute  of 
the  principle  in  Ireland,)  and  especially  all  who  have 
received  any  degree  of  education,  should  set  their  faces 
against  such  pitiful  acts  of  ferocious  cruelty,  as  would 
disgrace  the  vilest  savages. 

While  I  am  on  the  subject  of  the  Rev.  Michael  Murphy's 
death,  I  must  beg  leave  to  express  the  opinion  I  have 
adopted,  in  conjunction  with  the  most  sensible  and  ra- 
tional men  that  I  have  conversed  with  on  the  subject, 
respecting  the  priests  who  were  active  in  the  insurrec- 
tion. When  clergymen  so  far  forget  their  duty  as  to 
take  up  arms,  so  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel, 
they  become  most  dangerous  men ;  and  the  sooner  such 
are  cut  off  by  any  fatal  catastrophe  the  better.  The 
duty  of  a  clergyman  is,  to  preach  peace  and  charity 
towards  all  mankind:  when  his  conduct  deviates  from 
this,  he  acts  inconsistent  with  the  profession  he  has  en- 
tered into.  Why  throw  off  the  meek  garb  of  peace  for 
the  horrid  habiliments  of  war  ?  Under  no  possible  cir- 
cumstances ought  a  clergyman  to  be  instrumental  to  the 
death  of  any  person,  except  in  the  most  urgent  necessity 
of  self-defence.  "Whenever  else  he  takes  up  arms,  he 
becomes  a  traitor  to  the  Gospel  of  Christ ;  and  although 


156 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


treason  may,  on  particular  occasions,  be  considered  rise, 
fill,  yet  a  traitor  to  any  cause  never  can  be  regarded, 
even  by  those  for  whom  he  exerts  himself.  Besides,  the 
interference  of  clergymen  encouraging  any  kind  of  strife, 
but  particularly  warfare,  must  be  considered  highly  cul- 
pable, and  deserving  of  a  fatal  end.  Not  one  of  the 
priests  who  took  up  arms  in  the  county  of  Wexford  es- 
caped a  violent  and  sudden  death,  clearly  indicating  a 
providential  fate ;  and  although  they  were  not  ail,  at 
the  time,  under  suspension  or  ecclesiastical  censure,  yet* 
under  one  so  nearly  allied  to  it,  as  to  prevent  any  of 
them  from  having  arrived  to  the  situation  of  a  parish 
priest.  It  is  but  common  justice  that  those  alone  should 
bear  the  disgrace  of  reprobation  who  actually  deserved 
it,  and  that  the  great  body  of  the  Catholic  clergy  should 
be  rescued  from  censure,  as  they  were  free  from  blame. 
The  misconduct  of  a  few  individuals  should  not  involve 
the  good  character  of  the  many,  and  it  must  be  recol- 
lected that,  even  among  the  twelye  apostles,  there  was  a 
traitor.  The  conduct  of  the  Roman  Catholic  clergy  of 
the  county  of  Wexford,  however  unjustly  reviled,  was, 
during  the  insurrection  there,  guided  by  the  true  dic- 
tates and  principles  of  Christianity,  really  exemplary  and 
meritorious.  They  comforted  the  afflicted  with  all  the 
zeal  and  warmth  of  Christian  charity,  and,  in  the  most 
trying  and  critical  period,  practiced  every  deed  that  must 
be  considered  benevolent  by  every  liberal  and  enlightened 
man,  whatever  brawlers  of  loyalty  may  assert  to  the  con- 
trary— endeavouring,  with  indiscriminating  abuse,  to 
brand  their  conduct  in  general  with  the  stain  of  infamy. 
They  by  every  possible  means  sought  to  afford  every 
assistance  and  protection  in  their  power,  to  those  who 
stood  in  need  of  it ;  but  their  influence  was  greatly  di- 
minished by  not  following  the  example  of  the  militant 
priests,  who  strove  to  attain  an  elevation  and  superiority 
over  their  brethren  in  this  way,  which  they  could  not 
otherwise  accomplish.  If  I  may  be  allowed  the  expres- 
sion, the  conduct  of  the  fighting  priests  was  truly  am- 
phibious. Eor  while  they  cast  off  the  character  of  priests, 
and  took  up  that  of  soldiers,  they  still  wished  to  main- 
tain an  ascendancy,  even  in  their  new  stations,  by  re- 
a&suming  the  priest  whenever  it  answered  the  purpose 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


of  superiority,  the  passion  for  which  was  greatly  aug- 
mented by  indulgence  in  drinking ;  and  notwithstanding 
all  this,  they  were  conspicuous  for  courage  a»id  humanity. 

The  encampment  at  Slieye-kielter  was  transferred  from 
thence  to  Lackenftill,  within  a  mile  of  the  town  of  Ross  ; 
and  although  Mr.  Harvey  had  manifested  courage,  and 
had  formed  an  excellent  plan  for  the  attack  of  that  towr. — 
which  failed  of  success  only  by  not  following  his  direc- 
tions— yet  no  consideration  prevented  his  conduct  from 
being  faulted ;  and  he,  therefore,  leaving  the  command 
to  the  Reverend  Philip  Roche,  whose  boisterous  conduct 
pleased  the  multitude  better,  returned  to  Wexford. 

The  soldiery  stationed  at  Xewtownbarry  made  scleral 
excursions,  and  in  the  course  of  their  progress,  sone  miles 
from  the  town,  they  shot  every  man  they  met,  however 
unarmed  and  unoffending,  and  plundered  --nd  burned 
several  houses.  The  insurgent*  on  Vmega'v*  Hill,  irritated 
by  these  excesses,  followed  the  example,  and  day  aftpr  day 
made  excursions  from  their  camp  to  counteract  th*  niili 
tary ;  but,  however,  it  so  happened  that  they  did  not 
fall  in  with  eacn  other,  as  they  proceeded  on  different 
sides  of  the  Slaney,  which  prevented  their  meeting, 
although  their  depredations  were  in  sight  of  each  otjier 
and  wliile  the  one  party  was  burning  and  destroying 
what  they  considered  enemy's  property  in  one  quarter 
the  other,  actuated  by  revenge,  was  committing  like  de- 
vastation in  another;  and  it  would  seem,  as  if  by  pre- 
conception, that  both  moved  in  different  directions  on 
every  particular  day  of  excursion  ;  so  that  the  only  war- 
fare between  them  was  an  apparent  strife  who  should 
cause  the  greatest  desolation,  or  who  should  appear 
must  eager  to  destroy  what  was  spared  by  the  other  ; 
so  that  the  state  of  the  country  was  truly  lamentable- 
There  were  but  few  gunsmen  belonging  to  the  station 
arv  camp  at  Vinegar  Hill,  and  an  attack  on  that  post 
being  apprehended,  one  hundred  and  thirty  gunsmen 
ivere  sent  thither  from  Wexford,  under  the  command  of 
(  amain  Murphy.  These  men  had  not  experienced  any 
of  the  persecutions  practised  previous  to  the  insurrec- 
tion, and  were  consequently  untainted  with  the  rancor- 
ous spirit  of  revenge  which  they  produced  in  other 
narters.    In  short,  they  were  remarkable  for  regula- 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


nty  of  conduct,  and  they  prevented  a  continuation  of 
the  cruel  acts  that  had  been  hitherto  perpetrated  there; 
for  being  shocked  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  June, 
which  was  the  next  after  their  arrival,  by  seeing  a  map 
put  to  death,  the  Wexford  men  would  not  witness  sue 
another  scene,  and  they  declared  they  would  not  permit 
another  instance  of  the  kind  while  they  remained  ;  and 
their  humane  example  shamed  the  most  refractory 
whom  they  awed  into  order,  so  that  not  another  person 
suffered  on  Vineg-ar  Hill  thenceforward  until  the  20th  ; 
and  therefore  this  important  truth  completely  contra- 
dicts the  greatly  exaggerated  accounts  of  daily  victims, 
and  the  aggravated  statements  erroneously  propagated 
of  wicked  atrocities  committed  there  ;  and  however 
lamentable  it  is  that  many  persons  were  sacrificed  to 
popular  fury,  yet  it  is  somewhat  consoling  to  be  unde- 
ceived that  half  the  numbers  stated  could  not  have 
suffered.  I  do  not  by  any  means  intend  to  exculpate 
the  atrocities  committed  on  Vinegar  Hill,  as  a  sad 
catalogue  of  sufferers  could  be  enumerated ;  but  such 
misrepresentation  has  taken  place,  that  I  should  con^ 
sider  myself  deficient  in  the  task  I  have  undertaken,  did 
I  not  take  every  opportunity  of  declaring  facts  as  they 
occurred,  however  1  lament  the  existence  of  the  dread 
ful  effects  of  popular  fury.  Any  deviation  from  truth 
in  stating  such  egregious  enormities  can  take  place  only 
with  a  view  to  keep  alive  those  prejudices,  which  it  is 
so  much  the  interest  of  every  true  lover  of  his  country 
to  suppress  ;  and  to  learn  the  real  state  of  occurrences 
wid  be  the  best  possible  means  of  inducing  contending 
parties  to  forgive  and  forget  the  past,  and  to  cherish 
harmony  in  future.  I  must  observe  respecting  those 
lists,  denominated  authentic  of  persons  said  to  be 
put  to  death  in  particular  places,  that  it  is  necessary  to 
be  intimately  and  perfectly  acquainted  with  the  country 
and  its  inhabitants,  to  be  able  to  discover  that  several 
individuals  are  multiplied  in  the  account  of  their  deaths, 
as  the  same  person  is  mentioned  particularly  and  ge- 
nerally, in  one  place  by  one,  and  in  quite  a  different 
situation  by  another ;  and  thus  are  narrators  imposed 
on,  not  being  so  circumstanced  as  to  be  able  to  select 
truth  horn  falsehood  •  for  it  bv  no  means  comes  within 


IRISH  RLT'ELLION 


15* 


the  province  of  learning  to  sift  and  unravel  the  many 
conlused  stories  of  several  persons,  each  varying  ihe 
account  of  the  same  deed ;  which  though  in  fact  but 
one  occurrence  vet  might  be  nistaken  for  separate 
transactions,  as  no  feature  of  coincidence  is  so  discern- 
ible in  the  several  relations  of  the  same  thing,  as  to 
exhibit  the  real  and  uniform  picture.  I  have  under- 
taken this  narrative,  with  many  facts  of  which  I  am 
unfortunately  but  too  well  acquainted,  from  no  other 
idea  but  a  wish  to  reconcile  my  countrymen,  and  not  to 
let  misrepresentation  or  falsehood  psss  to  posterity  ; 
which  must  otherwise,  perhaps,  be  as  much  imposed 
on  as  those  who  have  hitherto  written  on  the  subject, 
when  it  would  be  utterly  impossible  to  obviate  misre- 
presentation ;  and  I  write  as  much  for  the  information 
of  those  who  have  been  already  led  astray,  as  for  the 
public  at  large  ;  and  shah  be  happy  to  elucidate  any 
particular  that  may  not  appear  sufficiently  explained, 
to  convince  them  that  I  advance  nothing  for  which  I 
have  not  undeniable  au^ority,  independent  of  my  per- 
sonal and  local  knowledge  of  the  principal  events  ;  and 
if  they  feel  the  candour  they  profess,  I  trust  they  will 
do  me  credit  for  wishing  to  set  them  right,  when  they 
appeal  to  tLe  public  for  information  and  correction  of 
any  errors  that  might  possibly  have  crept  into  their 
works. 

On  the  10th  of  June  an  attack  was  made  by  some 
gunboats  on  Fethard  ;  where,  after  destroying  all  the 
boats  mostly  belonging  to  poor  fishermen,  the  crews  set 
fire  to  and  burned  many  houses.  This  occurrence,  with 
several  ships,  seemingly  of  war,  being  seen  olf  the  coast, 
renewed  the  former  opinion,  that  a  landing  and  attack 
were  intended  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county.  Small 
camps  of  observation  were  therefore  instituted  at  Carne 
and  Rastoonstown,  to  be  attended  by  all  the  married 
men  of  the  neighbourhood,  they  being  supposed  to  prove 
more  watchful  for  the  protection  of  their  wives  and 
families,  by  obviating  sudden  emergency  ;  while  all  the 
bachelors  fit  for  actual  serviee  were  ordered  to  attend 
at  Lacken  Hill.  In  Wexford,  attempts  were  made  to 
manufacture  gunpowder  to  supply  the  scarcity  of  tha 
article,  which,  however,  did  not  succeed,  for  though  it 


m 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


would  explode,  yet  it  was  with  little  or  no  force.  The 
weather  continued  remarkably  fine  and  serene,  a  cir- 
cumstance very  favourable  to  the  insurgents'  made  of 
warfare,  as  they  had  scarcely  any  covering  but  a  few 
booths  or  tents,  not  sufficient  to  contain  even  their 
officers  ;  so  that  the  camps  were  not  much  encumbered 
with  equipage,  and  only  requiring  the  choice  of  a  field, 
and  should  one  not  prove  ample  enough  for  their  num- 
bers, the  adjoining  enclosures  were  occupied  in  sufficien* 
extent  to  contain  them  in  the  open  air. 

Sir  Thomas  Esmonde,  Baronet,  and  Mr.  Laurence 
Doyle,  officers  in  the  Castletown  yeomen  cavalry,  could 
not  escape  the  general  suspicion  entertained  against 
Catholics,  and  although  they  were  known  to  have  per- 
formed their  duty  at  the  battle  of  Arklow,  yet  this  did 
not  protect  them  from  a  most  contumelious  and  public 
arrest  on  the  12th  of  June,  at  Arklow,  whence  they 
were  conducted  under  a  guar  to  Dublin,  where  they 
continued  some  days  in  confinement,  and  were  then 
liberated  without  the  shadow  of  a  charge  being  brought 
against  them.  The  impolicy  of  this  and  the  like  trans- 
actions in  such  critical  times,  is  so  flagrant,  that  it  is 
astonishing  to  think  they  should  be  permitted  to  be 
practised ;  thus  exasperating  the  feelings  of  any  reli- 
gious description,  without  more  cogent  reason  than  sus- 
picion,  was  the  occasion  of  many  loyal  Catholics  not 
joining  the  army,  as  they  were  apprehensive  that  death 
might  be  the  consequence  of  their  being  suspected. 

As  the  insurgents  had  not  a  sufficiency  of  gunpowder 
to  undertake  any  new  attack,  they  remained  inactive 
in  their  several  encampments  for  some  days ;  but  in 
r>rder  to  obtain  a  good  supply  of  that  article,  it  was  re- 
Bolved  to  make  an  attack  on  Borris,  the  seat  of  Mr. 
Kavanagh,  in  the  county  of  Carlow,  whe  re,  it  was  sup- 
posed, lay  a  great  quantity  of  arms  and  ammunition. 
A  detachment  accordingly  proceeded  from  the  camp  on 
Vinegar  Hill  to  that  on  Lacken  Hill,  where,  receiving 
reinforcements,  the  united  party  moved  forward  to  the 
attack  of  Borris,  where  they  arrived  after  a  night's 
march,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  12th.  The  cavalry 
stationed  there  fled  on  the  approach  of  the  insurgents, 
but  a  party  of  the  Donegal  militia,  who  had  taken  up 


nilSII  REBELLION. 


|f)| 


their  quarters  in  the  house,  defended  it  with  groat 
bravery,  keeping  up  a  constant  fire  from  the  upper  win-^ 
dows,  an  plosing  but  one  man  in  the  course  of  the  con/ 
test.  The  cannon  the  insurgents  had  brought  with  them 
was  too  s  nail  to  have  any  effect  on  the  castle,  as  the 
only  baU,  discharged  by  one  of  them,  rebounded  from 
the  wall,  and  an  attack  by  musketry  was  of  course  con- 
sidered ineffectual.  As  no  hopes  then  remained  of  tak- 
ing the  mansion  by  assault  or  battery,  considering  the 
strength  and  thickness  of  the  walls,  and  that  the  lower 
windows  were  also  lately  built  up  with  strong  mason- 
work,  the  assailants  set  the  outer  offices  on  fire,  in  hope^ 
of  forcing  the  garrison  to  dislodge  themselves  i'.>r  theii 
protection  ;  but  this  manoeuvre  provipg  ineffectual,  and 
ihe  insurgents  having  expended  aJl  their  an, munition  it 
useless  efforts,  and  having  burned  some  houses  in  the 
pillage,  returned  to  the  several  encampments  from  whiclt 
they  had  been  detached  in  the  county  of  \\  exford. 

The  encampment  on  Gorey  Hill  had  by  this  time 
removed  to  Limerick  Hill,  and  the  army,  which  was 
now  daily  reinforced,  made  frequent  sallies  from 
their  several  stations,  and  committed  the  most  violent 
excesses,  putting  to  death  every  man  who  came  in  their 
way,  whether  by  accident  or  otherwise,  nor  were  the 
insurgents  backwardjn  retaliation  ;  so  that  the  situa- 
tion of  such  as  were  placed  between  the  contending  par- 
ties was  truly  pitiable  ;  being  uncertain  for  an  instant 
Df  the  safety  of  their  lives  or  properties,  and  equally 
subject  to  military  and  popular  violence  and  devasta- 
tion. Several  strong  reports  had  now  prevailed  through- 
out the  county  of  Wexford,  that  the  most  desperate 
atrocities  had  been  committed  by  the  soldiery  in  their 
different  quarters,  and  this  roused  the  already  irritated 
passious  of  the  people  to  revenge,  so  as  to  be  productive 
of  many  lamentable  acts  of  outrage,  ever  attendant  on 
civil  commotion,  and  keeping  alive  those  melancholy 
discords  which  never  occur  in  modern  times,  between 
separate  and  independent  nations  at  war ;  a  id  which  all 
enlightened  and  humane  people  so  strongly  detest  and 
reprobate.  Reports  of  these  enormities  very  much 
alarmed  tire  minds  of  the  prisoners  in  Wexford,  as  they 
trorigiv  annrehended  it  might  produce  an  alteration  in 


162 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


the  conduct  of  the  inhabitants  towards  them.  A  petk 
tion  to  government,  from  those  confined  in  the  gaol,  wa9 
accordingly  drawn  up,  expressive  of  the  danger  of  their 
situation  should  the  people  be  prompted  to  retaliation 
upon  them,  by  the  conduct  of  the  troops  towards  such 
)f  the  populace  or  their  friends  as  might  fall  into  their 
/lands  ;  and  on  this  occasion,  the  officers  who  were  pri- 
soners in  Wexford  appeared  more  alarmed  than  the 
others  there  in  confinement.  They  accordingly  com- 
municated to  me  their  apprehensions  and  wishes,  and 
proposed  striking  out  some  mode  of  putting  a  stop  to 
the  violences,  which,  they  very  naturally  feared,  might 
soon  involve  their  inevitable  destruction.  'Lord  Kings- 
borough  was  for  proposing  an  exchange  of  prisoners  as 
the  best  method  of  allaying  the  prevailing  alarms,  and 
of  suppressing  the  heat  and  violence  of  the  people,  now 
roused  to  the  highest  pitch  of  fury,  and  breathing 
nothing  but  revenge.  Indeed,  from  the  critical  state 
of  the  country,  and  the  peojie  in  general  abiding  no 
control,  it  was  difficult  to  devise  what  could  be  best 
attempted  to  avert  the  fate  that  seemed  to  impend  over 
every  person  of  any  distinction,  having  the  misfortune 
of  being  then  in  the  county  of  Wexford,  while  all  the 
chiefs  throughout  the  several  encampments  most  feel- 
ingly lamented  the  great  disorders  prevailing,  and  in 
conjunction  with  every  individual  of  the  least  respecta- 
bility, most  strongly  reprobated  the  cruelties  and  ex- 
cesses that  were  perpetrated.  So  violent  was  the  spirit 
of  retaliation  and  vengeance,  which  seemed  to  actuate 
the  whole  mass  of  the  people,  that  every  danger  was  to 
be  apprehended  from  it  unless  some  means  were  taken 
to  allay  the  existing  ferment.  On  the  13th  of  June, 
several  persons  from  the  different  encampments,  led  by 
the  most  benevolent  motives,  as  if  by  preconcerted  agree- 
ment, waited  on  the  commander-in-chief,  in  Wexford, 
to  consult  on  the  best  mode  of  keeping  the  unruly  rabble 
in  some  order,  over  whom  they  declared  they  had  not 
(as  indeed  they  never  had)  any  kind  of  control ;  and 
they  now  expressed  their  fears,  that  the  best  disposed 
of  the  men,  who  had  been  hitherto  distinguished  for 
good  conduct  and  humanity,  might  be  induced  by  the 
prevailing  rage  to  commit  acts  of  which  they  had  yet 


IRISH  REBELLION". 


1(33 


been  so  far  from  guilty,  that  they  gave  them  the  most 
strenuous  opposition.  The  abomination  of  Scullabogue 
had  excited  such  general  horror,  that  it  became  a  ma- 
terial object  of  consideration  on  this  occasion,  when  it 
was  resolved  to  institute  an  inquiry  for  the  purpose  of 
punching  in  the  most  exemplary  manner,  ihe  perpe- 
trators 01  this  mfernal  transaction  ! !! — the  existing  state 
of  the  country  prevented  the  accomplishment  of  so  de- 
sirable an  object.  A  favourable  circumstance  occurred 
at  this  time,  which  led  to  a  hope  that  conciliation  might 
be  attempted  with  some  proba  bility  of  success.  A  mes- 
sage was  sent  to  a  prison-ship  in  the  Inrbour  of  Dublin, 
offering  liberty  to  any  one  who  would  undertake  to  go 
to  Wexford  with  letters  for  Lord  Kingsborough.  Ac- 
cordingly a  man  of  the  name  of  John  Tu  ,ks  undertook 
the  task,  and,  being  provided  with  all  the  necessary 
passes,  he  arrived  safe  at  Limerick  Hill  camp,  whence 
was  sent  with  some  principal  persons  to  the  com  man 
der-in-chief  in  Wexford.  He  immediately  assembled 
those  he  thought  best  able  to  a  ivi^e  him  how  to  proceed, 
and  it  was  considered  fortunate  that  many  respectable 
persons  from  the  country  were  then  in  the  town,  all  of 
whom  approved  of  endeavouring  to  forward  the  senti- 
ments of  the  prisoners  along  with  Lord  Kingsborough's 
answer,  but  how  to  reconcile  tiie  people  to  the  measure 
without  nothing  effectual  could  be  done,  was  the  diffi- 
culty. The  committees  in  Wexford,  as  various  business 
and  orders  had  been  pressed  on  them  from  time  to  time, 
not  at  all  within  the  scope  of  their  intentions  upon  un- 
dertaking that  arduous  duty  were  not  considered  likely 
in  the  present  instance,  to  act  with  effect,  particularly 
as  their  numbers  had  been  increased  on  the  augmenta- 
tion of  business,  and  this  too  by  the  accession  of  low 
persons  who  might  procrastinate  the  proceedings  for 
immediate  remedy.  Accordingly  those  who  had  been 
in  consultation  with  the  commander-in-chief  proceeded 
along  with  him  to  the  house  wherein  the  different  com- 
mittees usually  met,  and  here  eight  persons,  considered 
the  most  capable  of  applying  a  speedy  and  elfectual 
remedy  to  the  existing  evil,  were  appointed,  and  tiie 
body  so  selected  denominated  *■  The  council  appointed 
to  manage  the  atfairs  of  the  neople  of  the  county  oi 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


Wexford,"  of  which  Mr.  Harvey  was  chosen  president. 
This  plan  was  to  be  communicated  to  the  different 
camps,  and  such  of  the  persons  as  might  not  be  approved 
of  by  the  people^  were  to  be  removed  and  replaced  by 
others.  This  arrangement  met  with  the  heartfelt  ap- 
probation of  all  the  prisoners,  especially  as  the  council 
immediately  proceeded  to  forward  the  very  plan  they 
themselves  had  previously  intended  to  put  in  operation. 
It  was  thought  necessary  also  to  confine  the  messenger 
Tunks  in  the  gaol,  as  he  was  very  talkative,  particu- 
larly with  respect  to  Lord  Kingsborough's  conduct  m 
Dublin,  to  some  parts  of  which,  he  said  he  had  been  an 
eye-witness.  His  manner  and  stories,  if  left  at  liberty, 
might  inflame  |he  minds  of  the  people,  whom,  at  the 
time,  it  was  so  necessary  not  to  provoke,  but  by  every 
possible  means  to  conciliate. 

Captain  M'Manus  being  deputed  by  the  prisoners  in 
the  gaol,  was  conducted  to  consult  with  Lord  Kingsbo- 
rough,  who  accordingly  wrote  a  letter  to  the  lord  lieu- 
tenant, in  the  name  of  all  the  prisoners,  (among  whom 
there  were  thirteen  officers,  besides  several  yeomanry 
officers,  and  principal  gentlemen  of  the  county,) 
intimating  their  great  danger,  but  that  they  had  hi- 
therto been  well  treated,  and,  in  every  respect,  as  pri- 
soners of  war,  and  therefore  hoping  that  the  prisoners 
taken  by  the  army  might  meet  the  like  good  treatment 
with  them,  for  that  otherwise  they  feared  reprisals 
might  be  made  and  their  destruction  prove  inevitable. 
This  letter,  along  with  any  others  that  the  officers  chose 
to  send  to  their  friends,  was  to  be  forwarded  to  the  next 
commanding  officer  of  the  army,  and  the  messenger  was 
to  return  with  an  answer  with  all  convenient  speed — . 
Lieutenant  Bourke,  of  the  North  Cork  militia,  was  ap- 
pointed to  carry  the  remainder  of  this  scheme  into  exe- 
cution, and  accordingly  on  the  evening  of  the  14th  day 
of  June,  he  set  out  from  Wexford,  accompanied  by  Mr 
Carty,  to  Enniscorthy,  and  part  of  the  way  by  Captain 
Dixon,  who,  at  Wexford,  seemingly  acquiesced  in  the 
business  ;  yet  such  was  his  duplicity,  that  he  galloped 
s>n  before  the  others  to  Enniscorthy,  where  by  mischie- 
vous representations  and  deceitful  contrivances,  he  so 
wrought  upon  the  people  as  to  induce  them  not  to  suffer 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


the  letters  to  be  forwarded;  and  such  was  bis  influence, 
that  not  only  Lieutenant  Bourkc  was  in  imminent  dan- 
ger, but  even  Mr.  Carry  ran  great  risk  in  opposing  his 
villanous  machinations  ;  but  after  being  baffled  in  their 
laudable  intentions,  th^y  were,  after  great  hazard,  per- 
mitted to  return  in  safety  the  next  day  to  Wexford. 

As  it  was  now  found  that  no  negotiation  could  be  en- 
tered into  without  the  express  concurrence  of  the  people, 
with  a  view  of  making  conciliation  more  attainable,  it 
was  deemed  expedient  to  bind  them  as  much  as  possible 
to  abide  the  control  of  their  commanders  ;  and  as  num- 
bers of  them  had  never  been  sworn  united  Irishmen,  the 
principles  of  brotherhood  contained  in  their  oath  were 
considered  by  many  of  the  principal  prisoners  excellent 
means  of  restraint,  it  was  therefore  thought  a  prudent 
measure  to  adopt  it  genera!  iy,  and  thereby  impress  on 
the  minds  of  the  people,  the  orderly  and  social  inter- 
course that  should  subsist  between  all  those  sworn  in  the 
same  cause,  and  the  moral  obligation  of  obeying  their 
commanders  ;  and  it  was  imagined  the  oath  itself  would 
curb  many  from  acting  licentiously.  The  measure  was 
accordingly  adopted,  and  oaths  were  also  formed,  with 
the  same  benevolent  intentions,  and  equally  approved 
of,  to  be  taken  by  all  officers  and  privates,  and  by  all  the 
people  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  and  copies  of  them 
were  printed  and  circulated  through  the  county. 

Considering  the  defenceless  state  of  the  country,  and 
the  existing  circumstances  of  the  day,  the  situation  of 
the  newly  appointed  council  was  far  from  enviable.  It 
became  their  duty  to  endeavour  to  avert  the  tremen- 
dously impending  fate  which  threatened  the  country 
with  inevitable  destruction,  and  to  exert  themselves  to 
the  utmost  of  their  power  to  concert  such  measures  as 
would  appear  most  likely  to  prove  effectual.  At  such  a 
criiical  period  their  undertaking  the  arduous  task  must 
be  considered  as  dictated  by  the  purest  sentiments  o. 
philanthropy ;  as  what  other  possible  motive  could  in- 
duce any  one  of  them  to  place  himself  in  such  a  perilous 
situation,  at  a  time  that  it  was  well  known  to  every  man 
of  rational  observation,  that  the  efforts  of  the  insurgents 
would  not  be  attended  with  final  success  ?  They  had 
indeed  undertaken  a  most  difficult  task,  although  they 


166 


illSTORT  or  THE 


have  not  escaped  the  censure  of  partizans  of  all  sides, 
vho.  while  they  venture  to  express  prejudiced  opinions, 
Jiave  no  conception  of  the  then  existing  general  state  of 
the  county  of  Wexford.  In  short,  the  council  were 
placed  in  a<$  embarrassing  a  predicament  as  can  well  be 
imagined,  seemingly  at  the  head  of  a  refractory  outra- 
geous populace,  whom  they  anxiously  sought  to  rescue 
from  destruction,  while  these  mostly  counteracted  their 
best  and  most  benevolent  intentions.  However,  when 
called  on  at  this  dangerous  juncture,  as  considered 
capable  of  applying  a  remedy  to  the  enormous  evil,  all 
petty  considerations  vanished,  and  they  undertook  to 
meet  the  difficulty  with  firmness  and  resolution  ;  and 
when  such  urgent  necessity  existed,  any  man  should  bo 
deemed  an  enemy  to  the  human  race  who  would  refuse 
*o  contribute  all  his  might  towards  the  salvation  of  hi& 
countrymen.  According  to  the  nature  of  the  existing 
evil,  so  should  be  that  of  the  counteracting  measures. 
From  this  consideration  the  council  did  not  think  it 
right,  for  the  preservation  of  the  people,  to  declare,  or 
even  in  the  smallest  degree  to  allow  their  defenceless 
state.  On  the  contrary,  it  was  considered  necessary, 
along  with  the  endeavour  to  encourage  general  union 
and  harmony,  to  appear  to  be,  as  much  as  possible,  able 
and  determined  to  adopt  the  most  firm  and  decisive 
measures,  with  the  view  of  obtaining  the  more  favour- 
able conditions  for  the  people. 

The  critical  situation  of  the  council,  as  far  as  it  re- 
garded the  management  of  the  people  themselves,  mi. 
be  well  exemplified  by  the  following  occurrence.  Ths 
town  of  Wexford  being  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  tran- 
quillity, was  all  at  once  thrown  into  the  most  violent 
confusion  and  alarm  by  a  great  cavalcade  coming  into  it 
over  the  bridge,  preceded  by  Captain  Dixon  and  his 
wife,  who  rode  through  the  streets,  while  he  with  ges- 
ture and  expression  the  most  outrageous  exhibited  a  fire- 
screen, ornamented  with  various  emblematical  figursn 
representing  some  heathen  gods,  and  with  orange  bor- 
dering, fringe,  and  tassels,  which  he  represented  as  the 
insignia  of  an  orange  lodge,  and  the  figures  he  tremen- 
dously announced  as  the  representations  of  the  tortures 
which  the  Catholics  were  to  suffer  from  oraiigeinen; 


IF.ISH  REBELLI  >N. 


107 


calling  on  the  people  to  take  signal  vengeance,  as  he 
produced  to  them,  he  said,  the  discovery  o:  the  whole 
plot,  found  at  Attramont,  the  seat  of  Colonel  Lefaimte. 
It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  tury  of  the  people  on  this 
occasion,  roused  to  the  most  violent  pitch  in  an  instant, 
and  only  to  be  accounted  for  on  the  principle  of  their 
supposition,  or  rather  persuasion  of  their  intended  ex- 
termination, which  the  sight  of  anything  orange  awak- 
ened in  the  most  sensitive  manner,  similarly  to  what 
has  been  before  related  concerning  *he  orange  warran 
or  commission  and  pitched  cap  discovered  in  the  bar- 
racks of  Wexford  When  Captain  Dixon  had,  by  this 
infernal  and  tumultuous  conduct,  assembled  almost  all 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  (whose  phrenzy,  on  seeing 
the  orange  ornaments,  ana  hearing  his  assertions  most 
desperately  vociferated,  it  is  impossible  to  describe,)  he 
proceeded  directly  to  the  hou  -e  wherein  Colonel  Lehunte 
lodged,  dragged  him  out,  and  marched  him  down  to  the 
gaol,  amidst  a  furious  and  enraged  mob,  by  whom  it  is 
wonderful  that  his  life  was  spared  at  the  instant. 

The  principal  inhabitants  immediately  assembled, 
and  very  narrowly  escaped  being  all  put  to  death;  for 
as  they  met  in  the  committee-hcuse,  opposite  which  the 
mob  had  collected,  a  common  ruffian  had  the  audacity 
to  come  in  and  fire  a  shot  amidst  them  all,  and  actualiy 
arre-ted  one  of  the  council,  which  so  provoked  a  gentle- 
man present,  who  happened  to  have  his  pistols  about 
him,  that  he  cocked  one  of  them  and  was  ready  to 
shoot  the  fellow,  but  was  fortunately  prevented  ;  for 
I  verily  believe  had  the  ruffian  been  shot  the  destruc- 
tion of  every  one  in  the  house  would  have  been  the 
inevitable  consequence.  The  populace  at  length  per- 
mitted some  gentlemen  to  address  them  from  the  win- 
dows, and  i:  w  as  a  considerable  time  before  they  m  ere 
able  to  persuade  them  that  all  their  fury  ar.d  madness 
had  proceeded  from  the  exhibition  of  a  fire-screen,  on 
whicn  were  represented  some  heathen  gods,  and  which 
formed  part  of  the  ornaments  of  a  room  furnished  three 
years  before,  with  orange  borderings  and  trimmings, 
then  considered  the  most  fashionable  colour. 

On  the  16th,  the  insurgents  set  out  from  their  en- 
campment at  Limerick  HiJl  to  Carnew,  where,  meeting 


m 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE 


with  no  force  to  interrupt  their  career,  they  proceeded 
as  far  as  Tinehaly ;  here  they  had  smart  skirmishing 
with  the  army,  from  whom  they  took  a  great  number 
of  cattle,  which  they  drove  on  before  them,  and  en- 
camped that  night  at  Mountpleasant.  On  their  quit- 
ting Limerick  Hill  in  the  morning,  the  prisoners  who 
were  confined  in  Gorey  were  thence  brought  to  Vinegar 
Hill,  from  which  they  were  conveyed  under  a  strong 
escort,  and  lodged  in  the  gaol  of  Wexford.  The  dispo- 
sition of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town,  in  not  permitting 
any  of  the  prisoners  there  confined  to  be  brought  out  of 
the  gaol,  where  they  were  considered  in  perfect  safety, 
was  well  known,  as  many  refusals  had  been  made  to 
*  demands  of  this  kind  from  the  country,  when  it  was 
apprehended  the  intention  was  not  to  set  them  at  liberty, 
but  to  put  them  to  death ;  in  the  present  instance, 
therefore,  the  strong  escort,  which  consisted  of  Ennis- 
corthy  men,  gave  no  intimation  of  any  design  until  they 
got  possession  of  the  gaol,  while  delivering  the  pri- 
soners they  had  brought  with  them ;  but  then  over- 
powering the  guards,  they  forced  away  with  them  four 
men,  who  had  been  very  obnoxious  to  the  people,  and 
with  them  quitted  the  town  immediately,  in  order 
to  afford  no  time  to  rescue  the  unfortunate  victims  from 
them.  The  four  devoted  men  were  taken  to  the  camp 
on  Vinegar  Hill,  where  they  were  the  next  morning  put 
to  death,  the  Wexford  gunsmen  having  returned  home 
on  the  evening  before,  for  during  their  stay  in  the  ca  mp 
only  one  man  suffered,  soon  after  their  arrival,  and  they 
would  by  no  means  allow  the  repetition  of  such  another 
deed,  as  has  been  before  observed. 

On  the  16th,  several  people  from  the  neighbourhood 
|f  Gorey  formed  a  small  encampment  on  Ask  Hill,  be- 
tween Gorey  and  Arklow,  from  which  last-mentioned 
town,  since  the  battle  fought  there,  the  troops  issued 
with  peculiar  caution.  On  this  day,  however,  a  troop 
of  yeomen  cavalry  had  the  fortitude  to  advance  toward 
ihe  little  camp  of  the  insurgents.  This  was,  at  the  time,, 
very  inconsiderable  as  to  numbers,  having  no  more  than 
about  one  hundred  men  equipped  or  fit  for  action,  the 
rest  having  either  dispersed  or  proceeded  to  Vinegar 
Hill ;  and  even  half  the  remaining  number  precipitately 


IRISH  REBFLI.XO*. 


fled  at  the  approach  of  the  cavalry ;  trhile  the  other 
ha.li,  armed  with  pikes  only,  stripped  to  their  shirts,  to 
be  unencumbered  in  exertion,  and  ran  in  full  speed  to 
meet  the  jeomen  ;  but  these  avoided  the  encounter  and 
expe  tiously  retreated  to  Arklow.  The  insurgents  then 
retidid  from  Ask  Hill,  and  moved  into  the  country  be- 
tween Oulartand  Wexford,  and  were  distributed  through 
the  different  houses  in  that  neighbourhood. 

On  Sunday,  the  17th  of  June,  a  detachment  of  four 
hundred  men  sent  out  from  the  camp  on  Vinegar  Hill, 
halted  in  Ferns  until  break  of  day,  when,  thus  early  on 
Monday,  the  18th,  they  marched  forward  with  an  inten- 
tion of  storming  Newtownbarry ;  but  meeting  at  Ca- 
molin  the  insurgents  who  had  now  quitted  their  station 
at  Mountpleasant,  they  altered  their  route  and  returned" 
to  Vinegar  Hill,  while  the  main  body  of  the  others  pro- 
ceeded to  Carrigrew,  whence  they  also  moved  on  the 
next  day  to  Vinegar  Hill. 

Early  on  the  19th,  the  encampment  on  Lacken  Hill 
was  surprised  by  a  military  force  that  came  out  from 
Ross  ;  and  the  insurgents,  provided  with  little  or  no  am- 
munition, and  not  apprehending  an  attack,  were  nearly 
surrounded  before  they  were  av*are  of  their  situation. 
They  were  also  but  few  in  number,  for  although  vast 
multitudes  appeared  in  their  encampments  in  'the  day- 
time, yet  they  were  almost  deserted  during  the  night, 
a&all  persons  took  the  liberty  of  going  and  coming  as 
they  pleased.  But  notwithstanding  this  and  the  sudden 
emergency,  they  effected  a  good  retreat  to  the  Three- 
Rocks,  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  This  was  contrived 
in  a  masterly  manner  by  the  address  of  their  comman- 
der, the  Rev.  Philip  Roche,  who,  being  roused  from  his 
bed  by  the  general  alarm,  ordered  the  foot  directly  to 
retreat,  and  having  collected  immediately  around  him 
the  few  horsemen  that  could  be  got  together,  caused 
them  to  seize  on  several  banners,  and  keep  waving 
them  at  different  distances,  as  it  were,  in  defiance,  so  as  to 
intimidate  the  troops  from  making  a  sudden  onset ;  and 
when  he  knew  that  his  foot  were  at  a  safe  distance,  he 
and  his  few  horsemen  galloped  after  them,  so  that  by  this 
contrivance — that  might  do  honour  to  an  experienced 
General — he  completely  baffled  the  military,  brought 


170 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


off  his  whole  force  entire,  and  was  himself  the  last  in 
quitting  the  hill. 

General  dispositions  were  now  made  to  attack  the  in- 
surgents on  all  sides,  and  the  several  divisions  of  the 
army  had  orders  from  Lieutenant-general  Lake  to  pro- 
ceed in  different  directions  for  that  purpose.  They 
were  all  to  move  toward  the  important  post  of  Vinegar 
Hill,  occupied  by  the  permanent  encampment  of  the 
insurgents,  since  the  28th  of  May,  on  the  taking  of 
Enniscorthy.  Pursuant  to  the  plan  of  a  general  as- 
sault, Lieutenant-general  Dundas  proceeded  on  the  18th 
of  June  from  Baltinglass  to  Ha^ket's-town,  whence  he 
was  to  proceed,  in  conjunction  with  Major -General 
Loftus,  who  was  to  join  him  from  Tullow,  with  the 
forces  under  his  command,  to  move  forward  to  attack 
the  insurgents  posted  on  Mountpleasant.  These  seemed 
willing  enough  to  engage,  but  the  troops  were  prevented 
from  coming  to  action  here,  by  other  orders  from  Lieu- 
tenant-general Lake,  who  thought  it  more  prudent  to 
wait  the  assistance  and  co-operation  of  his  whole  force 
combined,  than  to  risk  a  partial  engagement,  which 
might  thwart  or  impede  his  general  plan  of  operations. 
Major-general  Needham,  who  commanded  in  Arklow, 
moved  on  the  1 9th  to  Gorey,  and  on  the  next  day  en- 
camped on  Oulart  Hill>  whence  he  was  to  proceed  to 
Enniscorthy.  Greater  devastation  was  perceivabl. 
from  Arklow  to  Oulart,  than  in  any  other  part  of  the 
country.  On  the  19th,  Major-generals  Johnston  and 
Eustace,  after  obliging  the  insurgents  posted  on  Lacken 
Hill  hastily  to  abandon  their  situation,  proceeded  to 
Bloomfield,  where  they  encamped  on  the  evening  of  the 
SOth ;  while  Brigadier  general  Moore  reached  his  ap- 
pointed station  at  Fook's-mill  on  the.^ame  evening,  and 
Major-general  Sir  James  Duff,  who  had  marched  from 
Newtownbarry,  took  his  station  with  M«jor-general 
Loftus  at  Scarawalsh.  In  the  course  of  the  progressive 
march  of  these  several  divisions  of  the  army,  great  de- 
vastation took  place ;  numbers  of  houses  were  burned, 
and  corn  and  various  kinds  of  property  were  plundered 
and  destroyed,  mostly  at  the  instance  of  the  yeomen 
returning  to  their  different  neighbourhoods.  It  is  as* 
tonishing  that  landlords  of  all  descriptions  could  so  tar 


IRISH  REBELLION 


I 


forget  their  own  interests  as  to  join  in  the  destruction 
of  houses  on  their  land^,  however  they  might  he  in- 
duced to  hunt  out  their  lessees,  and  to  sacrifice  them, 
and  so  put  an  end  at  once  to  their  leases.  Yet  many 
instances  of  this  kind  are  related  throughout  the  coun- 
try. 

According  to  the  preconcerted  and  comprehensive 
plan  of  0}  orations,  all  the  generals  arrived,  with  their 
several  divisions,  at  the  different  staiions  to  which  they 
had  been  ordered  on  the  20ih,  of  which  ti  ey  seveially 
apprised  Lieutenant-general  Lake,  v  ho  vas  himself, 
with  his  staff  and  Lieutenant  general  Dundas,  posiedat 
Solsborough.    The  insurgents  of  the  northern  part  of 
the  county  of  Wexford  had  now  concentrated  their  force 
on  their  station  of  Vinegar  Hill,  and  at  a  consultation 
of  their  chiefs  it  was  proposed  to  make  a  general  assault 
on  the  post  of  Solsborough  during  the  night ;  but  to  this 
the  people  could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  agree,  who 
chose  rather  to  depend  upon  iheir  very  scanty  provision 
of  powder,  and  wait  tor  open  dav  light  to  engage.    It  is 
ver\  surprising  that,  considering  the  great  c<  urage  and 
intrepidity  displayed  by  them  in  so  many  engagements, 
the  insurgents  could  never  be  brought  to  make  a  noc- 
turnal attack  wherein  they  must  have  inevitably  proved 
successful,  as  the  contusion  into  which  the  regular 
troops  would  have  been  thrown  by  sucii  a  proceeding, 
would  reduce  them  to  a  level  with  irregular  bodies, 
whose  superiority  of  numbers  must  necessarily  have 
given  them  every  advantage.    On  the  19th,  General 
Edward  Roche,  and  such  of  the  insurgents  of  Ins  neigh- 
bourhood as  weie  at  Vinegar  Hill,  were  sent  home  to 
collect  the  whole  mass  of  the  people  for  general  defence. 
By  the  marcli  of  the  army  in  all  directions,  towards 
Vinegar  Hill  and  W  exford,  a  general  flight  of  such  o. 
the  inhabitants  as  could  get  oti  took  place ;  and,  as  the 
greater  part  of  the  county  was  now  occupied  by  ihu 
troops,  the  whole  population  was  composed  into  a  verj 
narrow  space  ;  and  at  this  time  there  was  not  an  en 
canipment  of  imurgents  in  the  m  rthern  part  ot  the 
ounty,  except  at  Vinegar  Hill;  while  in  the  southern 
uarter  the  small  camps  of  Carne  and  Kastoonstown 
ere  concentrated  at  the  Three  Rocks. 


172 


HISTORY  OF  1  HE 


The  alarm  was  now  general  throughout  the  whole 
country ;  all  men  were  called  to  attend  the  camps ; 
and  Wexford  became  the  universal  rendezvous  of  the 
fugitives,  who  reported,  with  various  circumstances  of 
horror,  the  progress  of  the  different  armies  approaching 
in  every  direction,  marking  their  movements  with  ter- 
rible devastation.  Ships  of  war  were  also  seen  off  the 
coast,  and  several  gun-boats  blocked  up  the  entrance 
of  the  harbour,  which  precluded  the  possibility  of  any 
vessel  getting  out;  so  that  Wexford  was  now  on  the 
brink  of  destruction,  and  the  inhabitants  'without  the 
smallest  hope  of  escape.  It  is  dreadful  to  conceive, 
and  impossible  to  describe,  the  horrors  felt  by  all  who 
had  the  misfortune  of  being  in  the  town  on  this  mo«t 
critical  occasion.  The  melancholy  scenes  of  devasta- 
tion perpetrated  by  the  army  in  the  country  about 
Carrick-Byrne,  exhibited  a  melancholy  picture ;  and 
from  the  commanding  situation  of  the  camp  at  the  Three 
Rocks,  on  the  mountain  of  Forth,  the  general  confla- 
gration, which  was  as  progressive  as  the  march  cf  the 
troops,  was  clearly  perceivable.  On  the  approach  of 
the  army,  great  numbers  of  countrymen,  with  their 
wives  and  ©hildren,  and  any  little  baggage  they  could 
hastily  pack  up,  fled  toward  Wexford,  as  to  an  asylum 
or  place  of  refuge ;  and  the  number  cf  these  was  in- 
creased every  instant  by  the  arrival  of  new  fugitives ; 
who  described,  in  melancholy  strain  of  laments  i  >n,  how 
their  houses  were  plundered  and  destroyed,  and  how 
they  themselves  had  narrowly  escaped  with  life  from 
the  fury  of  the  soldiery,  who,  when  thus  let  loose  and 
encouraged  to  range  over  and  ravage  a  country,  be- 
come the  greatest  curse  that  can  befall  it ! ! ! 

I  must,  however,  observe  that  General  Moore  did  all 
in  his  power  to  prevent  these  atrocities,  and  got  some 
plunderers  immediately  put  to  death  ;  but  his  humane 
and  benevolent  intentions  were  not  so  successful  from 
the  representations  and  excitements  of  the  refugees  re- 
turning home.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  he  was 
not  afterward  left  in  command  in  the  county  of  Wex- 
ford, as  he  was  ordered  to  Wicklow,  where  his  concilia- 
tory conduct  and  humanity  were  conspicuous,  and  wilj 
ever  be  remembered  with  gratitude  by  the  people,  who 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


173 


flocked  to  his  standard  for  protection.  Did  Ireland  en- 
joy the  blessings  of  such  rulers,  it  would  never  have 
been  involved  in  such  a  dreadful  situation. 

The  Reverend  Philip  Roche,  after  having  settled  the 
encampment  at  the  Three  Rocks,  came  into  Wexford 
and  demanded  all  kind  of  supplies  for  his  forces  ;  and 
as  the  inhabitants  (except  the  gunsmen,  who  attended 
for  some  time  on  Vinegar  Hill)  nad  never  quit  their 
homes  or  assisted  at  any  battle,  they  were  looked  upon 
in  a  very  invidious  point  of  \iew  by  the  rest  of  the 
people;  who  accordingly  vowed  the  destruction  of  the 
town  if  all  its  armed  men  would  not  appear  at  the  camp 
on  the  Three  Rocks  early  on  the  next  morning,  and 
join  in  general  defence.  The  Reverend  General  Roche, 
on  coming  into  Wexford,  was  greatly  exhausted  from 
his  diligent  and  unremitting  exertious  in  covering  the 
retreat  from  Lacken  Hill,  and  not  having  taken  a  mor- 
%el  of  food  during  the  whole  day,  less  drink  than  usual 
exhibited  him  in  the  course  of  the  evening  very  much  in- 
dicated. Of  this  man  it  is,  however,  necessary  to 
say,  that,  however  apparently  violent  and  boisterous^ 
he  was  remarkable  for  humanity.  He  never  suffered 
a  man  to  be  put  to  death  on  Lacken  Hill ;  and  the  fol- 
lowing, recorded  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gordon,  is  a  most 
powerful  instance  of  his  benevolence.  After  stating, 
that  although  "  Philip  Roche,  was  in  appearance  fierce 
and  sanguinary,  yet  several  persons  now  living  owe  their 
lives  to  his  boisterous  interference,"  he  proceeds  to  state 
that  "  two  Protestants  in  a  respectable  situation  in  life, 
brothers,  of  the  name  of  Robinson,  inhabitants  of  the 
parish  of  Killegny,  being  seized  and  carried  to  Vinegar 
Hill,  some  Roman  Catholic  tenants,  anxious  for  their 
safety,  galloped  in  full  speed  to  Roche's  quarters  at 
Lacken,  and  begged  his  assistance.  He  immediately  sent 
an  express  with  orders  to  bring  the  two  Robinsons  to 
Lacken,  pretending  to  have  charges  of  a  criminal  na- 
ture against  them,  for  which  they  should  be  tried.  The 
miscreants  on  Vinegar  Hill,  who  were  preparing  to 
butcher  these  men,  though  they  were  advanced  in  years, 
and  unimpeachable  with  any  other  crime  than  that  of 
Protestantism,  on  receipt  of  Roche's  orders  relinquished 
their  fury,  not  doubting  that  death  awaited  them  a{ 


174 


HISTORY  Of  THE 


Lacken.  But  Roche,  whose  object  was  to  snatch  thcso 
innocent  men  from  the  jaws  of  the  blood -hounds,  im- 
mediately on  their  arrival  at  his  quarters  gave  them 
written  protections,  and  sent  them  to  their  homes, 
where  they  wert  soon  after  in  danger  of  being  barged 
by  the  king's  troops,  who  were  too  ready  to  pronounce 
disloyal  all  such  as  had  been  spared  by  rebel  parties.' 
But  to  put  the  question  for  ever  at  rest,  whether  the 
insurrection  of  this  period  was  a  war  of  religion,  it  is 
only  necessary  to  observe,  that  this  was  utterly  impos- 
sible, notwithstanding  the  fanatic  deeds  of  some  base 
and  barbarous  individuals,  since  the  miiitia  regiments, 
who  fought  with  such  determined  animosity  against  the 
insurgents,  were  mostly  composed  of  Catholics.  Had 
there*  been  any  possible  grounds  to  establish  the  rebel- 
lion a  religious  one,  it  could  not  have  escaped  its  effect 
here,  as  enthusiastic  bigots  have  however  ventured  to 
utter  among  them  their  envenomed  sentiments.  The 
late  Earl  of  Clare,  who  cannot  be  suspected  of  being  a 
friend  to  Catholics,  could  not  have  given  his  opinion  in 
the  imperial  Parliament,  that  *' religion  was  not  the 
cause  of  the  rebellion,*'  had  he  not  every  opportunity 
from  his  official  situation  of  being  perfectly  possessed 
of  more  information  than  could  fall  to  the  lot  of  the 
public  at  large. 

While  the  principal  inhabitants  of  Wexford  were  in 
consultation,  to  which  they  were  now  summoned,  upon 
the  best  mode  of  self-preservation  and  defence,  the 
order  for  all  the  armed  men  to  appear  in  camp  by  break 
of  d;iy  became  imperative  ;  and  the  outcry  was  so  loud 
against  the  backwardness  of  the  Wexford-men,  that  se- 
veral set  off  immediately.  The  six  small  cannon  on 
board  the  Guinea  cutter  were  brought  on  shore,  and 
their  carriages  being  too  small  for  land  service,  they 
were  tied  on  cars  and  taken,  thus  mounted,  by  the  sailors 
to  the  camp  at  the  Three  Rocks,  where  the  scarcity 
of  ammunition  was  so  great,  that  not  a  charge  remained 
for  any  other  cannon.  On  this  evening  it  was  that  the 
Wexford  guns-men  had  returned  home  from  Vinegar 
Hill ;  and  about  seventy  men  from  the  northern  side  of 
the  Slaney  came  into  town  during  the  night,  and  were 
*odged  in  the  barrack  by  Captain  Dixon  who  had  been 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


175 


remarkably  active  in  spreading  alarm  through  the  coun- 
try north  of  the  town,  through  which  he  had  rode  seve- 
ral miles  to  induce  the  people  to  come  into  Wexford,  as 
it  were  for  general  defence.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the 
20th,  the  drum  beat  to  arms,  and  all  the  armed  inhabi- 
tants marched  out  to  camp,  leaving  none  in  the  town  but 
the  guards  that  had  been  on  duty  since  the  day  before. 
Some  time  after,  I  met  Captain  Dixon  in  the  street, 
booted  and  spurred,  and  in  all  appearance  thoroughly 
equipped  and  accoutred  to  go  out  to  battle;  his  horse 
also  stood  waiting  at  his  door  fully  caparisoned.  On 
inquiry,  however,  I  found  he  had  no  **eal  intention  of 
quitting  the  town.    I  then  informed  niin,  that  I  was 
seat  by  the  commander-in-chief  to  request  his  imme- 
diate attendance  at  the  Three  Rocks ;  but  this  he  de- 
clined obeying,  and  was  at  the  time  in  the  act  of  sending 
whiskey  to  the  countrymen  who  were  in  the  barrack  ; 
and  vjn  my  expressing  surprise  that  these  men  should 
remain  in  the  town,  contrary  to  general  orders,  he  re- 
plied, that  his  intention  was  to  keep  these  men  in  Wex- 
ford  to  replace  the  guards,  who,  he  said,  had  never  been 
in  any  battle,  and  must  now  go  out,  as  it  was  but  fair 
they  should  share  hardship  in  their  turn,  and  allow 
some  repose  to  those  men  who  had  been  in  every  en- 
gagement.   On  this  intelligence  I  immediately  got  on 
horseback  and  rode  up  to  the  barracks,  where  I  endea- 
voured by  every  means  in  my  power  to  induce  the  men 
to  leave  the  town  ;  and  they  at  length  seemed  willing 
to  consent.    But  on  the  arrival  of  Captain  Dixon,  with 
the  reinforcement  of  whiskey,  they  so  far  altered  their 
opinions  and  inclinations,  that  I  was  threatened  for  my 
interference.    From  the  specimen  of  Captain  Dixon's 
disposition  displayed  by  his  conduct  to  Colonel  Lehunte, 
no  confidence  could  be  placed  in  him  ;  and  seeing  his 
influence  over  these  men,  who  now  at  his  instance  ab- 
solutely refused  to  quit  the  town,  measures  of  precau- 
tion naturally  suggested  themselves.     After  recom- 
mending to  the  guards  to  be  vigilant  on  their  station, 
which  they  were  to  quit  upon  no  account,  I  galloped  oft 
to  the  Camp  at  Three  Rocks,  to  request  a  reinforcement 
of  the  Wexford  men  to  be  sent  back  with  me,  but  which 
1  bad  the  greatest  difficulty  In  obtaining,  notwithstand* 


176 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


tng  all  my  remonstrances,  and  was  at  last  granted,  ra- 
ther to  get  rid  of  my  importunity  than  from  any  other 
reason  or  motive ;  as  no  idea  of  a  massacre  was  at  all 
entertained.  I  was,  however,  allowed  to  take  my  choice 
of  the  Wexford  corps,  but  on  no  condition  should  they 
be  permitted  to  quit  the  camp,  until  the  whole  remain- 
ing force  should  have  marched  off,  as  it  was  apprehen- 
ded that  if  it  were  seen  going  they  might  be  followed 
by  others.  Fearing  the  men  might  be  countermanded 
if  I  should  leave  them  before  the  main  body  should 
have  moved  off,  I  waited  for  that  event,  which  took  up 
a  considerable  time;  during  which  1  also  procured  a 
letter  from  the  commander-in-chief,  Mr.  Harvey,  di- 
ected  to  Captain  Dixon,  ordering  him  come  out  to  camp, 
as  I  felt  earnest  wishes  to  induce  him  to  leave  the  town, 
for  which  purpose  I  left  no  means  untried,  but  all  with- 
out effect.  On  consulting  with  some  gentlemen  in  the 
Selsker  corps,  which  wras  that  I  had  chosen  to  return 
with  me,  as  it  contained  more  respectable  persons  and 
Protestants,  since  in  different  yeomanry  corps  than  any 
other  in  Wexford,  I  proposed  that  they  should  all  take 
an  oath  not  to  drink  spirits  until  further  orders,  as  I 
perceived  some  drunken  men  among  them,  who  could 
not  be  depended  upon.  This  plan  was  generally  ap- 
proved of,  and  all  were  accordingly  sworn,  except  four 
or  five  men  who  were  immediately  sent  off  with  the 
main  body.  This  corps  consisted  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  pike-men,  (no  gun's-man  being  allowed  to 
return,)  and  with  these,  having  secured  their  sobriety, 
along  with  the  guards  that  had  remained  in  Wexford,  I 
thought  to  be  completely  able  to  keep  Captain  Dixon 
and  his  drunken  crew  of  about  seventy  in  awe,  should 
they  show  an  inclination  to  be  refractory.  When  I 
judged  all  danger  of  a  countermand  was  over,  I  set  olf 
at  full  speed  toward  Wexford,  to  announce  this  rein- 
forcement to  the  guards  there  on  duty ;  but  about  half 
way  I  met  four  Protestant  gentlemen  with  pikes,  march- 
ing out  to  camp;  and  as  I  had  seen  them  before  in, 
the  morning,  when  they  declared  no  intention  of  this 
kind,  I  expressed  my  surprise  at  their  leaving  the  town, 
and  insisted  on  their  returning  thither  with  me;  but 
this  at  first  they  refused,  alleging  that,  on  my  quitting 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


177 


the  town,  Captain  Dixon  had  gone  about  the  streets 
threatening  death  and  destruction  to  all  who  would  not 
immediately  go  out  to  camp,  which  had  induced  them 
to  set  off  accordingly.  However  I  altered  their  resolu- 
tion by  calming  their  fears,  and  by  showing  the  letter 
from  th^  commander-in-chief  to  Captain  Dixon,  sug- 
gesting that  they  would  still  be  on  the  best  duty  by 
joining  the  men  that  were  on  their  return ;  upon  which 
they  promised  to  come  back  and  give  me  their  advice 
and  assistance  toward  the  protection  of  the  prisoners; 
in  whose  defence  I  declared  I  would  take  up  arms  which 
I  had  not  yet  done,  and  should  I  fall  I  thought  it  would 
be  a  noble  death  to  die  on  such  an  occasion.  On  thi9 
information  I  hastened  with  all  speed  to  Wexford  from 
which  I  had  been  now  absent  about  four  hours,  on  ac- 
count of  all  the  delays  I  unavoidably  experienced, 
the  Three  Rocks  being  three  miles  distant  from  the  town 
— but  how  great  was  my  surprise  and  astonishment  on 
finding  the  latter  taken  posession  of  by  a  va-t  multi- 
tude of  people,  consisting  of  several  thousands,  many 
of  whom  were  well  armed,  and  in  such  force  as  to  ba- 
nish all  hope  that  the  small  number  of  Wexford-men  re- 
maining in  and  returning  to  the  town  could  in  case  of 
need  uive  them  any  effectual  resistance.  General  Ed- 
ward Roche  had,  as  has  been  before  mentioned,  returned 
home,  at  a  very  late  hour  on  the  19th.  from  the  camp 
on  Vinegar  Hill,  to  collect  and  lead  thither  all  the  men 
in  his  neighbourhood.  The  number  of  these  was  now 
immensely  increased  by  the  vast  crowds  of  fugitives 
driven,  by  the  approach  of  the  army  from  about  Gorey 
into  the  part  of  the  country  called  Shilmalter.  Through 
this  quarter,  Captain  Dixon  had  made  an  excursion  on 
the  same  day,  diffusing  dread  and  al  inn,  and  calling  (in 
the  people  to  assemble  for  general  defence  at  Wexford* 
and  unfortunately  he  was  so  successful  in  his  efforts, 
that  on  the  morning  of  the  20th,  when  the  people  were 
assembled,  and  that  General  Edward  Roche  thought  to 
lead  them  towards  Enniscorthy,  they  peremptorily  re 
fused  to  proceed,  representing  Wexford,  from  the  sug« 
gestions  of  Captain  Dixon,  as  more  vulnerable  ;  where- 
fore the  general  himself  thought  it  more  advisable  to 
continue  with  this  body  of  the  people,  now  consisting 


ITS 


BIS  TOBY  OFTHB 


chiefly  of  the  fugitives  from  the  northern  parts  or  tha 
county.  These  were  continually  relating  their  misfor- 
tunes, the  cruelties  they  suffered,  and  the  hardships 
they  endured,  to  those  with  whom  they  took  refuge^ 
which  roused  and  irritated  the  populace  to  such  a  pitch 
of  fury  as  admits  not  of  description,  and  of  which  none 
but  an  eye-witness  can  have  an  adequate  idea.  All  en- 
treaties  or  remonstrances  to  sooth  or  calm  the  exaspe- 
rated multitude  were  in  vain  ;  however,  continuing  still 
on  horseback,  I  endeavoured  to  address,  explain,  excuse 
and  expostulate,  and  in  the  course  of  these  attempts 
many  pikes  were  raised  against  me,  and  several  guns 
and  pistols  cocked  and  pointed,  at  me,  and  vengeance 
vowed  against  me  as  an  oranyeman  ;  for  they  vociferated 
that  I  had  distinguished  myself  by  no  other  feat  but 
activity  in  protecting  their  enemies  the  oranyemen  ;  that 
I  had  never  attended  their  camps,  or  I  would  be  a 
judge  of  their  miseries  by  the  view  of  general  desola- 
tion One  man  would  roar  out,  that  I  had  not  been 
flogged  as  he  had  been;  another  pathetically  related, 
that  his  house  had  been  burned,  and  he  had  been  driven 
to  beggary  with  his  whole  family,  and  he  would 
have  the  death  of  the  person  that  injured  him  ;  a  third 
lamented  the  death  of  his  father,  another  that  of  his 
brother,  others  of  their  children ;  and  the  appeal  was 
made  to  me  to  decide  on  all  their  various  sufferings  and 
misfortunes  ;  while  they  perseveringly  declared  they 
only  wanted  to  be  avenged  of  those  who  had  actually 
done  them  wrong ;  and  I  was  asked,  if  similarly  cir- 
cumstanced, would  I  not  take  revenge  for  sucli  injuries 
as  theirs  ?  All  this  I  endeavoured  to  answer,  and  strove 
to  appease  the  wrath  of  popular  frenzy,  by  alleging 
that  the  laws  of  God  were  indefeasible,  and  that  they 
dictated  that  good  should  be  returned  for  evil  This 
had  some  little  effect  for  the  instant ;  but  it  was  indeed, 
but  momentary.  I  however,  continued  still  unwea- 
ried in  my  exertions,  particularly  endeavouring  to 
preserve  my  dear  and  beloved  fr/iend,  Mr,  Turner, 
whose  death  and  that  of  a  Mr.  Qainsfort,  the  po- 
pulace declared  iudispensible  to  their  satisfaction, 
p.s  they  had  led  out  the  army  against  them  on  Whit- 
sunday   pud  had  burnt  their  houses.    Although  J 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


knew  that  my  friend  had  burned  a  house,  (of  which 
he  most  sincerely  and  heartily  repented,)  yet  I  ap- 
pealed to  the  multitude,  if  any  one  could  prove  the 
fact  alleged  against  him,  and  no  one  appearing  to  come 
forward  for  that  purpose,  I  seized  on  the  glimpse  of 
hope  I  now  entertained  of  his  safety,  thinking  that  his 
life  might  he  preserved  by  demanding  a  trial,  on  which 
if  no  proof  of  criminality  could  be  adduced,  it  was  na- 
tural to  conclude  that  his  safety  must  be  certain.  I 
then  made  the  experiment ;  but  was  answered  by  this 
universal  cry — V  What  trial  did  we  or  our  friends  and 
relations  obtain  when  some  were  hanged  or  shot,  and 
others  whipped  or  otherwise  tortured ;  our  houses  and 
properties  burnt  and  destroyed,  and  ourselves  hunted 
like  mad  dogs  ?"  But  I  rejoined  with  some  effect — 
"  Do  you  mean  to  compare  yourselves  to  the  perpetra- 
tors of  such  deeds,  or  would  you  disgrace  your  conduct 
by  such  barbarous  acts  ?  This  appeal  to  their  princi  • 
pies  produced  the  consequence,  providentially,  as  I 
fondly  hoped,  of  their  consenting  to  a  trial,  but  on  the 
express  condition  that  I  should  retire,  and  be  present 
on  no  account.  At  this  critical  moment  I  perceived  a 
person  near  me  whom  I  had  induced  to  return  from  the 
Three  Rocks,  and  who,  true  to  his  promise  of  every  as- 
sistance in  his  power,  after  a  variety  of  difficulty  had 
got  close  by  me,  together  with  some  others  of  the  like 
benevolent  dispositions,  to  whom  I  stooped  down  from 
on  horseback  to  listen  tb  the  arguments  they  humanely 
suggested ;  and  I  must  declare,  that  I  derived  great 
courage,  from  their  presence  and  advice,  tc  persist  in 
my  entreaties,  in  the  course  of  which  I  find,  on  cool 
reflection,  that  I  underwent  great  danger,  of  which  I 
was  by  no  means  so  sensible  at  the  time,  until  afterwards 
informed  by  many,  who  were  kind  enough  to  hold  me 
in  regard,  while  they  prevented  different  persons  from 
shooting  me.  entreated  the  particular  person  before 
mentioned,  to  procure  men  whose  humanity  could  *j  >t 
be  doubted  to  try  the  prisoners,  and  when  h<>  should 
have  succeeded,  to  give  me  notice,  as  I  would  enaeavour 
in  the  meantime  to  delay  the  peopk  vho  were  insisting 
fiat  I  should  retire,  "  as,"  they  declared,  "  I  would  go 
to  the  devil  to  save  Turner."    I  did  promise  to  retirt 


ISO 


HISTORY    OF  T3S 


as  soon  as  I  could  have  proper  persons  appointed  to  sit 
in  trial  over  the  prisoners,  when  my  humane  friend 
Deckoned  to  me,  signifying  that  he  was  ready.  I  then 
went  into  the  committee  house,  where,  although  Cap- 
tain Dixon  and  Morgan  Byrne,  whose  sanguinary  dis- 
position I  was  well  aware  of,  insisted  that  they  should 
be  on  the  trial,  I  could  not  oppose  their  appointment ; 
but,  however,  four  out  of  seven,  which  was  the  number 
chosen,  humanely  offered  themselves,  having  previously 
promised  me,  that  they  would  not  consent  to  put  any 
one  to  death.  I  made  use  of  another  stratagem  by 
proposing  an  oath,  that  in  their  proceedings  they 
would  not  be  guided  by  public  prejudice,  but  by  justice 
and  the  evidence  before  them.  This  was  with  a  view 
if  possible,  to  secure  the  assistance  and  co-operation 
even  of  the  most  sanguinary,  and  the  seven  were  ac- 
cordingly sworn  to  that  effect.  By  this  contrivance,  and 
the  solemn  assurance  of  the  four  persons,  that  they 
would  not  consent  to  the  condemnation  of  any  one, 
I  fondly  hoped  that  I  had  secured  the  life  of  my  friend 
from  danger  ;  and  being  fully  confident  of  the  sucees§ 
of  my  plan,  I  left  its  subsequent  management  to  a  per. 
son  on  whose  sincerity  I  could  rely,  and  to  whose  worth 
I  am  sorry  at  not  having  the  liberty  to  do  justice  by 
naming  him ;  and  having  made  sure  of  such  a  friend 
to  humanity,  I  thought  it  most  prudent  to  retire,  in 
order  to  please  the  people,  the  inclinations  of  many  of 
whom  I  had  now  thwarted  for  hours  ;  and  I  had  good 
reason  to  suppose  they  would  then  be  more  inclined  to 
listen  to  a  new  man. 

The  seven  persons  appointed  to  sit  on  the  trial  pro 
cecded  from  the  committee-house  to  the  gaol,  where 
they  went  into  a  small  bed-chamber,  inside  the  gaoler's 
kitchen,  in  which  Captain  Dixon  had  left  five  prisoners 
whom  he  had  doomed  as  the  first  victims  for  condemna- 
tion ;  but  he  here  met  with  an  opposition  of  which  he 
•was  not  until  that  moment  at  all  aware.  The  mem- 
bers of  this  kind  of  popular  tribunal  divided  ;  three 
were  for  death  ;  but  the  other  four,  true  to  their  pro« 
mise,  and  unwarped  in  their  humane  inclinations, 
firmly  declared,  that  they  considered  themselves  merely 
appointed  to  prevent  massacre,  and  to  save  the  lives  o 


IRISH  REBELM?N. 


the  prisoners,  and  would  not  attend  or  listen  to  any  re- 
presentation from  Dixon  or  his  fellows.  This  produced 
a  very  violent  altercation,  and  great  danger  was  to  be 
apprehended  by  the  friends  of  humanity,  as  Peter  Byrne 
actually  rushed  into  the  room,  and  threatened  them 
rith  instant  destruction  if  they  did  not  agree  to  the 
leath  of  the  prisoners.  Some  others  of  Dixon's  blood- 
thirsty associates  had  got  into  the  gaol,  and  were  se- 
lecting such  of  the  prisoners  as  they  pleased  to  doorii 
fit  objects  of  destruction  ;  but  although  Dixon's  own 
designs  cannot  be  doubted  of  ravening  for  blood,  and 
that  he  was  willing  and  eager  to  attempt  any  thing  to 
gain  his  object,  yet,  as  the  four  men  resolutely  perse- 
vered in  refusing  to*  agree  to  the  death  of  any  man  at 
such  a  crazy  and  frensied  moment,  he  was  going  to 
retire  from  a  place  where  his  sanguinary  views  and  cruel 
sentiments  were  opposed  and  overruled,  and  it  is  more 
than  probable  that  the  sanguinary,  retarded  for  hours 
in  the  onset,  would  have  cooled  in  their  fury,  and  have 
recovered  sentiments  of  humanity  sul5cien*£to  prevent 
them  from  putting  any  one  to  death,  were  it  not  for  two 
informers,  Charles  Jackson   a  carver  and  gilder,  and 

  O'Connor,  an  organist,  both  of  whom  had  not 

long  resided  in  Wexford,  and  who  were  cast  off  from 

the  society  of  the  other  prisoners  then  in  the  gaol  

These,  as  ill  fate  would  have  it,  threw  themselves  on 
their  knees  to  Captain  Dixon,  acknowledged  that  they 
were  orangemen,  and  ready  to  give  every  information, 
provided  their  lives  might  be  spared.  Dixon,  before 
in  despair  at  finding  his  sanguinary  hopes  baffled  and 
blasted,  readily  agreed  to  their  proposal,  as  it  afforded 
a  new  prospect  of  perpetrating  his  infernal  designs. — 
He  instantly  addressed  the  people  assembled  before  the 
gaol,  stating  that  two  Orangemen  had  become  informers, 
and  that  proceeding  to  trial  was  therefore  unnecessary, 
as  the  evidence  of  these  men  must  be  conclusive.  It 
may  easily  be  conceived  that  on  thig  communication, 
horribly  vociferated  by  Dixon,  and  re-echoed  by  his 
wife,  the  populace  became  ungovernable !  The  people 
instantly  approved  of  his  plan,  and  demanded  that  all 
orangemen  should  be  sent  out  to  them  ;  but  his  first 
cars  was  to  turn  the  men  who  opposed  his  bloody 


182 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


schemes  out  of  the  gaol,  of  which  he  and  his  savage 
associates  took  complete  possession.  Kenneth  Ma- 
thewson,  as  one  of  the  persons  denounced  by  the  in 
formers,  was  then  turned  out,  and  immediately  shot  at 
the  gaol  door.  John  Atkins,  a  painter  and  glazier, 
was  another  against  whom  they  gave  information  ;  and 
Ac  being  one  of  those  whom  Dixon  had  originally 
brought  down  for  triai,  as  destined  victims  for  immo- 
lation, he  vvas  still  in  the  gaoler's  kitchen,  when,  hear- 
ing himself  called  for  by  name,  he  ran  into  the  inner- 
room  and  hid  under  the  bed,  where  he  lay  concealed 
until  all  danger  was  over.  While  these  unforeseen  but 
melancholy  events  were  passing,  I  had  retired  in  full 
assurance  that  the  people  would  be  appeased  ;  and  not- 
withstanding that  they  had  peremptorily  forbidden  my 
being  preseut  at  any  trial,  yet  I  was  in  hopes,  as  ap- 
pearing nc  longer  on  horseback,  that  I  might  get  into 
the  gaol  unobserved,  and  endeavour  to  assist  those  who 
had  undertaken  the  humane  and  philanthropic  task  of 
protection.  «feut  great  was  my  amazement,  indeed,  at 
finding  the  most  violent  threats  uttered  against  me  as  I 
approached  the  multitude.  I  therefore  thought  it  most 
prudent  to  suffer  myself  to  be  led  by  two  young  women, 
who  hurried  me'/into  a  house,  the  door  of  which  hap- 
pened to  be  open :  and  while  they  were  explaining  to 
me  the  cause  of  this  sudden  and,  unexpected  tumult,  a 
shot  was  fired,  and  it  was  instantly  rumoured  through 
the  crowd,  that  Colonel  Lehunte  was  killed  ;  upon 
which  I  could  not  help  exclaiming  that  they  had  put  an 
innocent  man  to  death  !  I  then  declared  my  determi- 
nation to  go  out  and  endeavour  to  stop  such  a  scene  of 
tmtchery.  On  this,  a  man  who  knew  me  seized  upon 
me,  and  positively  insisted  I  should  not  leave  the  house, 
as,  just  before  I  had  come  up,  he  had  heard  the  people 
vow  vengeance  against  me  in  so  vehement  a  manner,, 
that  he  was  certain  X  must  inevitably  perish  should  I 
attempt  to  interfere.  'On  finding  that  it  was  not  possi- 
ble for  me  to  do  any  good,  the  share  of  courage  1  had 
hitherto  felt  quite  forsook  me  at  this  juncture  ;  I  burst 
into  tears,  and  sunk  into  a  state  of  insensibility.  When 
the  mob  had  in  some  degree  dispersed,  I  was  supported 
homewards  by  this  good-natured  man,  but  was  oblige*  i 


TRISH  REBELLION. 


183 


from  faintness  to  stop  twice  on  the  way  before  I  reached 
my  lodgings.  '  ,     ,  . 

It  is  confidently  asked  by  many,  why  the  clergy  and 
principal  inhabitants  did  not  interfere  to  prevent  mas- 
sacre. There  were  but  few  of  the  inhabitants  at  all  in 
the  town,  and  I  saw  most  part  of  the  few  that  had  re- 
mained in  Wexford  on  that  day,  together  with  some 
clergymen,  do  all  in  their  power  to  restrain  the  fury  of 
the  people,  and  prevent  the  spi  ling  of  blood :  but  I  do 
believe,  that  under  existing  circumstances  it  was  impos- 
sible to  control  the  multitude  inflamed  as  they  were  by 
the  representations  of  Dixon  and  his  associates ;  and  in 
such  imminently  critical  cases,  it  is  not  every  one  that 
has  nerves  strong  enough  to  encounter  the  impending 
danger.  For  my  own  part,  although  I  was  courageous 
enough  in  the  beginning  of  the  day,  yet  I  found  myself 
afterwards  in  such  a  state  as  to  be  incapable  of  any  exer- 
tion.  I  therefore  doubt  much  whether  any  person  ask- 
ing such  questions,  would  have  fortitude  or  charity 
enough  to  step  forward  on  such  an  occasion,  an*l  attempt 
to  save  any  one's  life,  so  much  as  by  declaring  a  truth 
favourable  to  his  preservation  ;  a  conduct  that  ought  to 
flow  even  from  spontaneous  generosity  or  gratitude  for 
material  obligation ;  but  such  slight  interference  as  this 
was  extracted  by  no  motive  from,  but  in  some  instances, 
refused  or  perverted  by  the  like  hypocritical  and  mock 
philanthropists,  with  those  who  put  these  presumptuous 
interrogatories.  But  to  judge  fairly  of  the  conduct  of 
another,  it  is  necessary  to  be  placed  in  a  similar  situa- 
tion. 

After  the  death  of  Mathewson,  Captain  Dixon  and 
his  wife  proposed  that  those  who  were  to  be  put  to  death 
should  be  brought  down  to  the  bridge,  whither  the  mob 
retired.  Eighteen  intended  for  execution  were  first 
conducted  from  the  gaol,  under  a  strong  guard,  headed 
by  Dixon,  flanked  by  the  two  orange  informers,  whom 
he  wished  to  exhibit  as  the  grand  support  of  his  con-, 
duct.  These  informers  were  brought  into  a  public  bil- 
liard-room on  the  Custom -house-quay,  (and  not  at  all 
to  the  bridge,  to  which  it  is  adjacent,)  where  they  un- 
derwent an  examination,  at  which  Dixon  presided.  It 
is  probable  that  these  informers  did  not  give  informa- 


164 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


tion  against  every  one  that  was  put  to  death  on  thi9 
occasion ;  but  it  is  a  certain  truth,  and  an  evident  factt 
that  the  information  of  these  men  was  esteemed  of  such 
consequence,  even  by  such  a  sanguinary  tribunal,  that 
their  services  saved  their  lives.    The  fate  of  the  pri- 
soners was  quickly  decided,  on  their  being  conducted  to 
the  bridge,  as  the  proceedings  concerning  them  were 
summary  indeed.    It  was  asked,  did  any  one  know  any 
good  action  of  the  intended  victim,  sufficient  to  save  his 
life ;  and  if  no  answer  was  made,  the  assertion  of  an 
individual  of  some  deed  against  the  people,  was  conclu- 
sive evidence  of  guilt,  and  immediately  death  was  the 
consequence,  on  his  primary  denunciation  by  Captain 
Dixon.    Some,  however,  escaped  with  their  lives,  on 
the  interference  of  some  person  stepping  forward  in  their 
favour.    A  few  were  shot,  but  the  greater  number  suf- 
fered by  being  piked,  and  some  of  those  with  aggravated 
r  cumstances  of  barbarity.  All  the  bodies  were  thrown 
%  Dver  the  bridge,  but  neither  stripped  nor  their  pockets 
rifled,  which  I  should  scarcely  have  believed,  but.  that 
1  have  beei>  positively  assured  that  watches  and  money 
were  found  upon  them  when  afterwards  discovered. — 
Captain  Dixon  sent  from  time  to  time  for  different  per- 
sons to  the  several  places  of  confinement,  and  at  inter- 
vals came  out  to  announce  further  discoveries  from  the 
informers.    This  admirably  suited  his  hellish  purpose 
of  putting  all  the  prisoners  to  death  ;  which  he  might 
unfortunately  have  effected,  but  that  Providence  was  at 
length  pleased  to  interpose,  while  the  minds  of  the  popu- 
lace seemed  wrought  up  to  the  most  desperate  pitch  of 
cruelty  !    I'he  Rev.  Mr.  Corrin,  who  had  been  absent 
from  the  town  the  whole  of  the  day  on  parochial  duty, 
had  but  just  returned,  when  he  was  sent  for  by  Mr. 
Kellett,  then  on  his  defence  at  the  bridge.   Thither  th  e 
rev.  gentleman  instantly  repaired,  and,  having  thrown 
himself  on  his  knees,  entreated  they  might  join  him  in 
prayer  ;  when  he  supplicated  the  Almighty  to  show  the 
same  mercy  to  the  people  as  they  would  show  to  their 
prisoners  ;  and  with  that  he  addressed  them  in  such 
leeling,  pathetic,  and  moving  language,  that  he  theieby 
laved  the  lives  of  several  who  had  been  just  ordered  to 
he  bridui  from  the  mark    bouse  by     ixon.  While 


IRISH  REBELLIOfr 


fche  Rev.  Mr.  Corrin  was  on  the  fatal  spot,  Mr.  Esmonde 
Kyan,  who  had  been  wounded  in  the  shoulder  at  the 
battle  of  Arklow,  lay  in  the  most  excruciating  torture 
in  a  house  at  Ferry- bank,  on  the  country  side  of  the 
wooden-bridge  ;  but  on  hearing  what  was  going  forward, 
he  instantly  got  out  of  bed,  ran  to  the  fatal  spot,  and  by 
hia  animated  conduct  and  address  rescued  Mr.  Newton 
King,  and  Captain  Milward,  ot  the  Wexford  militia, 
with  some  others,  from  the  fury  of  the  populace  Ge- 
neral Edward  Roche  also,  by  his  humane  interference, 
snatched  Mr.  James  Goodall  and  osiers  from  the  jaws 
of  death  ;  while  different  other  persons,  of  inferior  note, 
and  some  even  of  tne  lower  class,  interposed  so  as  tc 
fave  one  or  other  of  their  neighbours  ;  and  at  length  it 
pleased  Grod  that  this  horrid  butchery  ceased  !  The 
Catholic  clergymen,  and  all  the  principal  inhabitants 
tvho  remained  in  the  town  that  day,  exhausted  every 
means  in  their  power  in  endeavours  to  appr  a*e  the  rag* 
of  the  populace ,  ol  whom  it  is  necessary  to  observe, 
they  could  have  little  or  no  persona,!  knowledge,  as  t£e 
outrageous  multitude  had  collected  from  the  northern 
p&TXs  of  the  county,  and  not  at  all  composed  of  Wexford 
meiS,  over  whom  they  might  be  supposed  to  have  some 
local  influence.    But  such  as  have  not  been  eye-wit- 
nesses, and  who  have  not,  even  in  that  case,  been  some- 
times among  and  conversant  with  the  people,  can  have 
but  a  very  inadequate  idea  of  the  danger  of  interference 
against  the  uncontrollable  fury  of  a  rabble  exasperated 
to  the  highest  pitch  by  the  incidents  I  have  endeavoured 
to  describe.    Dreadful  and  shocking  events  are  most 
subject  to  misrepresentations,  as  individuals  will  imagine 
excesses  according  to  their  several  feelings,  and  alth  ough 
it  is  confidently  asserted,  that  ninety-seven  were  put  to 
death  on  the  bridge,  I  have  good  reason  to  believe  that 
thirty-five  was  the  number  that  suffered.    Among  the 
various  occupations  assumed  by  different  persons  in  the 
course  of  this  melancholy  catastrophe,  one  man,  in  a 
most  audible  voice,  counted  the  victims  one  by  one,  as 
they  were  put  to  death;  and  I  have  further  reason  to 
believe,  that  thirty-five  was  the  exact  number  of  su-f 
ferers  on  the  bridge,  and  one  at  the  gaol  door  ;  amount- 
ing in  all         day  in  Wexford  to  thirty-six  i  as  on 


186 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


most  particular  inquiry,  even  with  the  help  of  the  lists 
published,  as  well  as  from  personal  knowledge,  I  am 
enabled  to  know,  that  several  who  are  stated  to  have 
been  sacrificed  on  the  bridge  that  day,  suffered  not  then, 
nor  there,  nor  at  all  in  Wexford  :  so  that  I  hope  hu- 
manity will  induce  a  future  retractation  of  the  lists 
alluded  to,  not  only  as  the  assertors  have  been  evidently 
imposed  upon,  but  as  also  their  publication  must  help 
to  keep  up  those  animosities  which  they  profess  they  do 
not  wish  to  encourage.  But,  if  writers  will  persist  in 
publishing  those  liSff,  why  not,  for  the  sake  of  general 
and  true  information,  publish  the  number  of  the  killed 
and  wounded,  by  whatever  means,  on  both  sides  ;  since 
it  must  stamp  the  character  of  a  partizan  to  detail  but 
one  side  of  the  question  ?  On  that  ever-to-be  lamented 
day,  there  are  many  who  ran  great  ri^k  of  personal 
safety  in  becoming  advocates  for  the  unfortunate :  I 
wish  I  could  learn  of  as  many  who  exhibited  equal  proof 
of  sincerity  in  favour  of  the  hapless  and  ill-fated  people! 
Were  this  the  case..  I  verily  believe  1  should  not  have  to 
relate  the  dreadful  desolation  in  the  county  of  Wexford. 
In  critical  times,  such  as  those,  certainly  different  cir- 
cumstances will  excite  different  sensations  ;  but  with 
respect  to  the  business  V^efore  us,  tne  saying  ol  a  most 
liberal  Protestant  gentleman  must  be  regarded  as  pos- 
sessing peculiar  force  in  repressing  misrepresentation. 
He  says,  "  I  have  heard  of  hundreds  of  Catholics  in  the 
county  of  Wexford,  who  have,  at  the  risk  cf  their  lives, 
saved  Protestants  ;  but  I  have  not  heard  of  a  single  Pro- 
testant who  encountered  any  danger  to  save  the  life  of  a 
Catholic." 

The  black  flag  that  appeared  in  Wexford  on  this  day 
is,  among  other  things,  talked  of  with  various  chime- 
rical conjectures,  and  its  notoriety  as  denouncing  mas- 
sacre has  been  confidently  recorded ;  notwithstanding 
that  it  is  an  absolute  fact,  that  this  identical  black  flag 
was,  throughout  the  whole  insurrection,  borne  by  a 
particular  corps,  and  the  carrying  of  banners  of  that 
colour,  was  by  no  means  a  singular  circumstance  dur- 
ing that  period,  as  flags  of  that  and  every  other  hue, 
except  orange,  were  waved  by  $ie  insurgents,  and  frxnu 
their  different  dies,  ingenious  conjectures,  however 


IRI8II  REBELLION. 


1 


groundless  for  the  maintenance  of  prejudice,  may  he 
made  as  to  the  several  dispositions  of  the  bodies  who 
moved  under  them,  as  little  founded  in  fact  or  inten- 
tion, as  was  the  original  intention  of  the  black  ensign 
in  question. 

Although  General  Edward  Roche  had  tho  nominal 
command  of  the  great  body  of  men  that  came  into 
Wexford  on  this  day,  yet  his  authority  appears  to  have 
been  very  limited,  when  he  was  not  able  to  lead  them 
to  the  intended  destination  ;  but  it  became  still  less  on 
his  arrival  into  that  town,  where  Dixon,  who  was  his  bro- 
ther-in-law,  had  gained  such  an  ascendancy,  although 
possessed  of  not  even  any  nominal  command ;  be- 
ing hut  a  general  blusterer,  affecting  great  consequence, 
g  ill*  ping  from  camp  to  camp,  and  seeking  every  op- 
portunity of  doing  mischief,  generally  while  the  battles 
were  going  on,  and  at  one  of  which  he  never  appeared 
but  in  the  back  ground.  His  denomination  of  Captain 
was  owing  to  his  being  master  of  a  sloop  which  traded 
to  and  from  Wexford.  This  man's  conduct  was  in  com- 
plete contradiction  to  the  sentiments  of  Roche,  who 
vvas  on  his  subsequent  surrender  in  December,  1799, 
tried  by  a  court-martial  in  Wexford,  on  a  charge  of 
"  aiding  and  abetting  the  murders  on  the  bridge,  on  the 
20th  of  June,  1798."  But  his  humane  exertions  ap- 
peared so  meritorious  before  that  tribunal,  that  he  was 
acquitted  of  this  charge,  which  could  not  possibly  be, 
as  he  possessed  command,  had  it  not  been  perfectly 
proved  that  such  command  was  merely  nominal,  as  'his 
orders  and  endeavours  were  counteracted  by  persons 
having  no  command  whatever,  but  what  arose  from  in- 
flammatory addresses  to  the  populace,  urging  them  to 
take  exemplary  vengeance  of  their  enemies,  in  which 
they  were  unfortunately  but  too  successful. 

In  the  first  house  1  had  been  obliged  to  stop  at  on  thr 
way  to  my  lodgings,  I  met  a  gentleman  to  whom  I  was 
endeavouring  to  give  some  account  of  what  had  occur* 
rul,  while  Dixon  was  passing  by,  with  the  two  nranyc 
informers,  one  on  each  side  of  him.  The  gentleman  ran 
i  ut  and  began  to  plead  for  mercy,  expressing  at  the 
lame  time  a  hope  that  Dixon  would  come  into  the  house 
fend  consult  with  me  before  he  would  put  his  dcsigif 


188 


HTSTORY  OF  TR*E 


•nto  execution.  But  on  this  Dixon  exclaimed,  "Is  it  to 
consult  Mr.  Hay,  who  has  already  deserved  death  for 
(he  part  he  has  taken  in  stopping  us  so  long  from  taking 
revenge  of  our  enemies?  Here  are  two  oranymen,  who 
have  become  informers,  and  there  are  the  men  I  am  go- 
ing to  have  put  to  death,  (pointing  to  the  prisoners  that 
were  following  him  under  a  strong  military  guard,)  and 
when  I  have  done  with  these,  I  shall  then  treat  Mr. 
Hay  in  the  same  manner*"  When  Dixon  had  passed  on, 
the  gentleman  returned  and  offered  to  conduct  me  home, 
but  I  was  again  obliged  to  stop  on  the  way  in  a  house 
where  the  wives  and  daughters  of  some  officers,  affrighted 
by  the  general  alarm,  ran  to  me  in  tears,  while  all  I 
could  do  was  to  join  in  their  lamentations.  I  certainly 
should  not  have  had  sufficient  power  to  walk  any  farther, 
had  I  not  taken  a  glass  of  wine  they  kindly  offered  me. 
However,  I  at  length  arrived  at  the  house  where  I  had 
been  since  the  insurrection,  and  there  remained  in  a 
state  of  stupid  insensibility,  until  I  was  roused  by  seve- 
ral ladies,  who  pressed  me  to  come  to  dinner,  which  was 
urT- ^;ally  late  that  day ;  and  although  I  was  able  to 
-vve  for  the  ladies,  I  could  not  taste  a  morsel  myself. 
Shortly  after,  a  messenger  came  for  me  from  Lord 
Kicgsborough  and  his  officers,  requesting  my  immediate 
attendance.  I  instantly  complied,  although  I  had  little 
hopes  of  being  a^ble  to  afford  them  any  relief,  yet  I  would 
not  refuse  to  try  my  best  endeavours.  On  getting  into 
the  street,  I  met  a  crow  d  of  people  proceeding  to  a  par- 
ticular house,  with  intention,  as  I  soon  discovered,  of 
oringing  out  Mr.  Joseph  Gray,  lieutenant  of  the  Wex- 
ford cavalry,  who  had  transported  his  servant.  I  had 
ihe  presence  of  mind  to  say  that  Mr.  Gray  was  out 
fighting  lor  them,  and  that  they  seemed  to  me  not  to  be 
able  to  distinguish  their  friends  from  their  enemies; 
which  fortunately  prevented  them  from  proceeding  any 
farther ;  for  I  knew  he  wras  in  the  house,  and  had  too 
much  reason  to  fear,  that  upon  their  forcing  in^  it,  his 
death  and  many  more  must  have  been  tho  inevitable 
consequence.  This  device  proving  successful,  gave  me 
more  courage  to  go  on  to  Lord  Kingsborough's  lodgings, 
"here  1  was  refused  admittance.  However,  I  spoke  to 
mm  and  his  officers,  as  they  appeared  at  the  window  %, 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


189 


and  declared  that  as  long  as  I  was  alive  myself,  they 
might  depend  upon  every  exertion  of  mine  in  their  be- 
half. Shortly  after  I  fortunately  met  General  Edward 
Roche,  whose  humane  exertions  to  prevent  them,  were 
as  conspicuous  as  his  lamentations  were  sincere  for  the 
dreadful  scenes  then  exhibiting.  I  conjured  him  to 
hasten  down  to  the  bridge,  and  there  to  represent  the 
urgent  necessity  of  the  people's  attendance  at  Vinegar 
Hill,  suggesting  that  he  could,  with  more  propriety  than, 
any  other,  interpose  his  authority  with  a  prospect  of 
success,  as  he  was  himself  called  on  to  attend  by  all  the 
chiefs  in  the  camp ;  and  as  an  express  was  sent  from 
Vinegar  Hill  to  Wexford  demanding  reinforcements,  and 
expressing  surprise  that  Edward  Roche  had  not  come, 
with  the  force  of  his  neighbourhood,  which  he  had  been 
sent  home  to  collect,  and  bring  along  with  him.  These 
considerations  inspired  the  general  with  new  vigour  to 
endeavour  to  lead  the^e  men  out  of  the  town,  which  lie 
at  length  effected,  and  the  people  marched  off  under  Ms 
command  out  of  Wexford 

When  the  town  was  thus  cleared  of  its  dreadful  visi- 
tors, about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  I  ootained  ad- 
mission to  Lord  Kingsborough  and  his  officers.  We 
jointly  took  a  retrospective  view  of  the  horribly  distracted 
state  ot  the  country,  as  well  as  of  its  impending  danger, 
and  after  a  variety  of  consultation  between  us,  it  was 
agreed,  that  the  only  mode  of  preserving  Wexford  and 
ail  its  inhabitants  from  destruction  was," that  early  on  the 
next  morning,  I  should  accompany  Lord  Kingsborough 
to  the  army,  and  by  an  explanation  of  existing  circum- 
stances it  was  hoped  that  the  town  might  be  spared  from 
the  dreadful  fate  which  seemed  to  wait  it  every  instant 
Wexford  was  indeed  at  this  period  in  a  most  perilous  si- 
tuation. Intelligence  had  arrived  there  of  the  approach 
of  three  different  armies — one  of  which  was  advanced 
as  far  as  Oulart,  another  had  arrived  at  Enniscorthy, 
and  the  progressive  march  of  the  third  was  conspicuous 
the  evening  before  from  the  Three  Rocks,  by  the  insur- 
gents stationed  there,  who  on  the  morning  of  this  day 
proceeded  to  meet  it.  The  gun-boats  on  the  coast  also 
made  a  formidable  appearance,  as  announced  by  the  men 
vhohad  been  stationed  at  the  fort  of  Roslare,  but  who 


190 


HISTORY  Ofr  THB 


now  abandoned  that  post  and  fled  into  Wexford,  bringing 
fiie  alarming  news  that  several  ships  of  « ai%  kind  other 
irmed  vessels  were  approaching  the  harbour.  By  the 
time  we  had  settled  all  matters,  relative  to  oar  departure 
on  this  expedition  next  morning,  it  was  au  Vu,HLed  in  the 
night,  and  the  Wexford-men  were  flocking  home  from 
the  battle  of  Fooks's-mill.  I  had  then  proposed  to  go 
and  consult  the  principal  inhabitants,  whose  co-opera- 
tion and  assistance  were  so  necessary  in  such  an  under- 
taking, but  which  I  made  not  the  least  doubt  of  obtaining, 
and  took  my  leave  of  his  lordship  and  the  other  officers, 
promising  to  return  to  them  early  on  the  next  morning. 
It  was  a  considerable  time  before  I  could  collect  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  the  principal  'uhabitants  to  communi- 
cate my  intentions  to  them ;  and  even  when  it  was  at 
length  effected,  their  confusion  was  such,  that  it  waj 
agreed  to  postpone  the  business  until  early  in  the  follow- 
ing morning,  then  to  meet  at  Captain  Keugh's  house, 
where  the  subject  would  be  taken  into  consideration  by  a 
general  assembly,  which  could  not  be  so  well  formed  at 
that  time  of  the  night. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  20th,  the 
army  under  the  command  of  General  Moore,  began  to 
march  from  its  encampment  at  Long-graigue,  the  seat  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Sutton,  towards  Taghmon,  and  had  pro- 
ceeded but  half-a-mile,  when  the  insurgent  force  from 
the  Three  Rocks,  led  on  by  their  general  the  Rev.  Philip 
Roche,  appeared  in  view  at  a  place  called  Fooks's  mill. 
Each' party  immediately  commenced  the  attack,  which 
lasted  with  various  success  and  great  obstinacy,  on  both 
sides,  for  four  hours,  when  the  insurgents  having  expend- 
ed the  whole  of  their  ammunition  at  the  very  moment  that 
it  is  said  the  troops  were  on  the  point  of  giving  way, 
thought  proper  to  retire,  and  made  a  good  retreat  to  their 
original  station  on  the  Three  Rocks.  In  this  engagement, 
from  the  nature  of  the  ground,  the  great  body  of  the 
pike-men  could  not  be  brought  into  action,  so  that  there 
were  not  more  of  the  insurgents  engaged  than  about  an 
equal  number  with  that  of  the  army  against  them,  whose 
loss  too  is  said  to  be  considerably  greater  than  theirs, 
but  although  General  Moore's  dispatches  concerning  the 
engagement  have  been  published,  yet  the  list  of  the  killed 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


191 


and  wounded,  mentioned  to  have  been  sent  with  tho 
general's  letter,  has  been  suppressed,  so  that  I  have  not 
been  able  to  obtain  the  official  account  of  this  partiema^. 
Tiic  insurgents,  as  usual,  did  not  attempt  to  retreat  until 
they  had  fired  their  last  shot,  when  two  regiments  under 
Lord  Dalhousie  were  perceived  coming  up  to  reinforce 
General  Moore.  The  insurgents  in  the  retreat  brought 
away  with  them  five  out  of  the  six  small  cannon  which 
they  brought  out  *.vith  them,  all  of  which  had  been  fas- 
tened on  common  cars  with  ropes,  and  the  remaining 
one  they  lost,  because  the  car  upon  which  it  was  mounted 
having  been  broken  by  falling  into  a  ditch,  it  was  left 
there.  The  Wexford  men,  who  were  in  this  engage- 
ment, attended  their  companions  to  the  Three  Rocks, 
and  then  proceeded  to  the  town,  where  they  arrived  late 
at  night. 

General  Johnston  had  smart  skirmishing  with  the  out- 
post of  the  insurgents  from  Enniscorthy  on  the  20th,  on 
Lis  arrival  at  Bloomfield,  within  a  mile  of  Enniscorthy. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  the  2lst,  a  general  assaul:  was 
made  on  the  insurgent  force  encamped  on  Vinegar  Hill, 
by  General  Lake,  while  the  town  of  Enniscorthy  was 
attacked  by  General  Johnston,  which  he  carried  after  an 
obstinate  resistance  of  two  hours,  with  groat  slaughter 
of  the  insurgents,  whose  defence  of  the  place  was  most 
wonderful,  considering  that  they  had  but  a  few  pounds 
of  powder  to  distribute  to  their  whole  force  on  the  pre- 
ceding evening  ;  sj  that  it  is  astonishing  how  they  could 
venture  with  such  a  scanty  provision  of  ammunition,  to 
give  any  opposition  to  any  army  of  great  force,  perfectly 
equipped  and  appointed,  and  abundantly  provided  with 
every  necessary.  Even  on  Vinegar  Hill  there  were  but 
two  charges  for  cannon  ;  one  of  which  was  fired  against 
the  army  approaching  from  Solsborough,  and  the  other 
dismounted  cannon  posted  at  the  Durlrey-gatc  at  Ennis- 
earthy ;  and  although  a  great  number  of  cannon  and 
bombs  wtre  fired  from  the  royal  artillery  toward  Vine- 
gar Hill,  only  one  man  was  wounded,  and  none  killed 
by  the  shot  from  the  ordnance.  The  insurgents,  not- 
withstanding their  defenceless  situation,  displayed  vast 
courage  an  1  intrepidity  before  they  abandoned  the  hill, 
which  they  were  st  length  obliged  to  do,  and  great  num- 


192 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


bers  of  them  fell  on  this  occasion.  All  suspected  persona 
were  put  to  death  in  Enniscorthy,  and  several  houseg 
were  set  on  fire ;  among  the  rest  that  which  had  been 
used  by  the  insurgents  as  an  hospital,  which  together 
with  all  the  wounded  men  in  it,  were  totally  consumed. 
A  free  passage  was  left  for  the  insurgents  to  retreat  to 
Wexfoid,  as  the  division  of  the  army  under  General 
Needham,  from  some  unaccountable  reason,  had  not  come 
up  in  time  to  join  the  battle  ;  and  from  the  route  this 
division  took,  it  is  surprising  that  it  did  not  fall  in  with 
the  insurgent  force  under  General  Edward  Roche,  who 
was  also  too  late  for  the  engagement,  as  he  only  arrived 
just  at  the  cononencement  of  the  retreat  of  the  insur- 
gents, which,  however,  he  recovered  with  his  men  from 
Darby-gap,  and  restrained  the  career  of  the  cavalry  that 
were  in  full  pursuit  of  the  insurgents  dislodged  from 
Vinegar  Hill. 

Lord  Kingsborough  was  so  anxious  to  carry  the  plan 
we  had  agreed  on  for  the  salvation  of  the  town,  into  ex- 
ecution, that  he  sent  for  me  before  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning  on  the  21st,  when  I  had  scarcely  time  to  have 
taken  any  rest.  I  instantly  got  up  and  went  to  him,  when 
I  found  him  arrayed  in  full  uniform,  and  completely 
quipped  to  set  out  that  moment,  which  he  wanted  me  to 
do  also ;  but  1  represented  to  him  the  danger  of  going 
through  the  country  in  such  apparel,  as  he  then  was. 
without  the  concurrence  of  the  people  with  our  plan, 
which,  however,  I  thought,  would  be  easily  obtained,  as  I 
related  to  him  the  conversation  I  held  with  the  principal 
inhabitants  on  the  night  preceding ;  and  that  I  expected 
to  meet  them  again  on  the  subject  at  an  early  hour  that 
morning,  lie  and  his  officers  then  entreated  me  to  hasten 
the  meeting,  and  to  have  the  drum  beat  to  arms,  for  the 
people  to  assemble,  that  their  consent  might  be  obtained0 
as  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost  in  carrying  into  effect  the, 
only  means  of  saving  the  town  from  total  destruction :  for 
we  distinctly  heard  the  report  of  the  cannon  from  Ennis- 
rorthy,  where  the  battle  had  just  then  commenced.  I 
immediately  went  and  rapped  un  the  principal  inhabitants 
nearest  to  me,  whom  1  commissioned  to  call  up  their 
neighbours;  and  thus  in  a  short  time  was  the  w  hole  tew  n 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


103 


f  .used  from  slumber.  A  meeting  consequently  took  place 
at  the  house  of  Captain  Keugh,  where  it  was  thought- 
advisable  that  Doctor  Jacob  should  accompany  Lord 
Kingsborough  and  me;  but  on  further  contemplation  in- 
stead of  one,  xt  was  judged  necessary  to  send  out  three 
deputations  from  the  town  to  the  three  different  armies 
approaching,  lest  one  might  not  be  able  to  effect  its  pur- 
pose ;  and  it  was  also  thought  most  prudent,  that  Lord 
Kingsborough  should  not  leave  the  town,  but  that  it 
should  be  instantly  surrendered  to  him,  as  military  com- 
mander ;  and  Doctor  Jacob,  who  was  present,  offered  to 
re-assume  the  office  of  mayor;  so  that  this  was  putting  all 
kind  of  civil  and  military  authority  into  the  same  hands 
in  which  they  were  before  the  insurrection;  and  thus  did 
the  inhabitants  of  Wexford  do  every  thing  consistent  with 
iluty  by  taking  the  earliest  opportunity  of  returning  to 
their  allegiance,  which,  by  the  fundamental  principles  of 
the  constitution,  could  never  be  arraigned,  as  they  were 
not  only  abandoned,  but  even  surrendered  to  the  insur- 
gents, by  those  who  were  bound,  by  every  tie  of  duty  and 
interest,  to  protect  them,  but  who  instead  of  acting  as 
they  ought,  sent  a  deputation  of  surrender,  and  shame- 
fully fled,  leaving  even  their  own  wives  and  families, 
together  with  the  other  inhabitants,  under  the  uncontrol- 
lable sway  of  the  conquerors,  whom  they  thus  constituted 
regular  enemies. 

Captain  M 4 Maims  of  the  Antrim  militia  and  myself 
were  appointed  to  proceed  to  the  army  at  Oulart,  with 
the  proposal  of  the  inhabitants  of  Wexford  and  Lord 
Kingsborough's  dispatches  ;  Captain  O'Hea  of  theNortlj 
Cork  militia,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Cloney,  were  deputed  on 
the  like  mission  to  Enniscorthy  ;  and  Captain  Bourke  of 
the  North  Cork  militia,  and  Mr.  Robert  Carty  were  sen* 
to  the  army  of  Taghmon.  The  meeting  was  then  ad 
journed  to  the  custom-house  quay  to  propose  these  ar 
rangements  to  ths  people,  assembled  there  on  parade  foi 
the  purpose.  They  approved  of  every  step  that  had  beer 
taken  with  three  cheers ;  and  the  business  was  concluded 
by  a  most  feeling  address  from  Doctor  Jacob,  in  tears,  to 
the  people,  whose  good  opinion  on  all  occasions  he  was 
so  happy  as  to  possess,  by  being  very  attentive  in  his  duty 
as  physician  and  surgeon  to  the  wounded.  A  deputation 
then  went  to  Lord  Kingsborough's  lodgings  to  inform  him 


194 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


of  tr\p  determination  of  the  people ;  and  his  lordship,  upon 
accepting  of  the  military  command  of  the  town,  applied 
to  Captain  Keugh  for  his  sword  ;  but  he,  taking  a  wrong 
impression  of  the  solemnity  of  the  previous  proceedings, 
and  imagining  himself  entitled  to  march  out  at  the  head 
of  the  people  to  meet  the  army  approaching  the  town, 
proposed  surrendering  it  and  the  sword  together  to  the 
officer  principal  in  command  of  the  army  approaching  the 
town ;  but  not  finding  one  supporter  of  this  proposed 
scheme,  he  reluctantly  surrendered  to  Lord  Kingsbo- 
rough  his  sword  and  other  arms,  but  with  the  greatest 
formality. 

Lord  Kingsborough,  thus  invested  with  the  military 
authority  in  Wexford,  set  about  writing  dispatches  to 
the  several  officers  commading  the  different  armies  ap- 
proaching the  town,  informing  them,  " That  the  town  of 
Wexford  had  surrendered  to  him,  and  in  consequence  of 
the  behaviour  of  those  in  the  town  during  the  rebellion, 
they  should  all  be  protected  in  person  and  property,  mur- 
derers excepted,  and  those  who  had  instigated  others  to 
commit  murder,  hoping  these  terms  might  be  ratified,  a 
lie  had  pledged  his  honour  in  the  most  solemn  manner  to 
have  these  terms  fulfilled  on  the  town  being  surrendered 
to  Mm,  the  Wexford~men  not  being  concerned  in  the 
massacre  which  was  perpetrated  by  country  people  in 
their  absence." 

With  these  dispatches  were  enclosed  as  a  further  docu- 
ment, the  following  proposals  from  the  people  of  Wex- 
ford*— "That  Captain  M'Manus  shall  proceed  from 
Wexford  toward  Oulart,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Edward 
Hay,  appointed  by  the  inhabitants  of  all  religious  per- 
suasions to  inform  the  officer  commanding  the  King's 
troops,  that  they  are  ready  to  deliver  up  the  town  of 
Wexford  without  opposition,  to  lay  down  their  arms,  and 
return  to  their  allegiance,  provided  that  their  persons 
and  properties  are  guaranteed  by  the  commanding  offi- 
cer; and  that  they  will  use  every  influence  in  their  power 
to  induce  the  people  of  the  country  at  large  to  return  to 
their  allegiance ;  and  these  terms  it  is  hoped  Captain 
M'Manus  will  be  able  to  procure. 

"Signed  by  order  of  the  inhabitants  of  Wexford, 
"  Matthew  Keugh. 

"  Wexford  June  21,  1798." 


IK1SH  REBELLION. 


AH  matters  being  thus  arranged,  I  went  down  to  the 
gaol  for  Captain  M'Manus,  as  well  as  to  announce  the 
news  to  all  the  prisoners.  As  I  had  on  a  former  occasion 
consulted  them  on  a  letter  written  in  their  name  and 
behalf,  and  as  they  were  universally  pleased  with  my 
sentiments,  they  ali  crowded  about  me,  many  of  them 
even  in  their  shirts,  and  when  I  communicated  to  them 
the  purport  or  the  mission  of  Captain  M Planus  and  my- 
self, the  joy  they  manifested  can  only  be  conceived  by 
such  as  have  been  in  a  similar  situation.  They  expressed 
sentiments  of  the  utmost  kindness  to  me  in  particular, 
and  hearty  success  to  our  undertaking.  Captain  ftC'Ma- 
nus  then  accompanied  me  to  Lord  Kingsborough,  who 
waited  his  arrival  to  consult  with  him  and  the  principal 
inhabits  its  together  ;  and  when  ail  things  were  adjusted 
between  them,  and  that  his  lordiliip  had  written  his  dis- 
patches, enclosing  the  propot-.il  of  the  townsmen,  thfi 
captain  and  I  set  out,  bearing  these  credentials,  and  pro- 
ceeded as  far  as  Castle-bridge,  where,  finding  that  the 
troo:  s  which  had  been  stationed  at  Oulart  had  moved 
toward  Enniscorthy.  we  thought  it  best  to  direct  our 
course  thither.  As  yet  we  had  met  with  none  but  women 
and  children,  who  were  bewailing  tfieir  wretched  condi- 
tion in  the  most  piteous  strains.  Shortly  afterwards, 
however,  we  met  Captain  Dixon,  who  had  been  present 
at  the  approval  of  our  deputation  by  the  people  of  Wex- 
ford in  the  morning ;  but  the  plan  not  corresponding 
with  his  sentiments,  he  had  set  out  with  intention  to 
gain  over  a  party  in  the  country  to  waylay  and  put  us  to 
death  ;  but  as  ail  the  men  had  gone  to  camp,  he  could 
not  find  accomplices  to  assist  him  in  this  undertaking. 
Soon  after,  we  met  Morgan  Byrne,  a  man  of  the  :>aine 
stamp,  who  was  Dixon's  associate  the  day  before,  and 
whose  cowardice  and  cruelty  were  equally  conspicuous,* 

•  The  conduct  of  this  man  exemplifies  the  usual  infamy  attendant 
on  informers,  as  immediately  previous  to  toe  insurrection  he  had  wait- 
ed on  Captain  (now  Major)  Kavanagh,  with  a  plentiful  offer  of  inior- 
raarion  trom  his  father  and  himself,  when  the  sudoen  i..surrecrioa 
prevented  its  accomplishment  He  and  soma  of  u  is  rdaiitts  were  di*. 
tiaguished  by  their  barbarous  dispositions,  as  true  co-operators  oi 
Captain  Dixon,  whose  conduct  is  a  manifest  proof  how  uuiike  yog 
sometimes  find  even  : -rotlxi s,  as  they  were  distinguished  by  their  tea- 
denies*  and  humanity,  whereas  he  was  a  sanguinary  monster. 


nir-xv»y  o#  the 


he  accosted  us  in  the  most  abrupt  and  savage  manner, 
vowing  death  and  destruction  against  numbers,  amongst 
whom  he  was  pleased  to  include  myself  and  my  compa- 
nion, whom  he  called  a  spy.  Upon  my  declaring  that  I 
was  going  to  take  observation  of  the  position  of  the  army, 
he  insisted  upon  accompanying  us;  and,  as  he  had  a 
musket  and  bayonet,  two  cases  of  pistols — one  in  hol- 
sters, and  the  other  flung  on  his  belts — while  we  had  no 
arms  whatever,  I  thought  it  most  prudent  to  humour 
him,  which  I  did  for  two  miles  that  he  rode  with  us, 
when  we  had  the  good  fortune  to  shake  him  off ;  and  I 
then  informed  Captain  M'Manus  of  the  danger  we  had 
escaped  by  getting  off  such  a  ruffian.  We  then  came  to 
a  resolution  to  be  the  first  to  address  every  one  we  met, 
to  show  our  confidence,  and  by  this  precaution  we  passed 
unmolested  by  great  numbers  who  were  flying  from  Vi- 
negar Hill,  and  the  more  dangerous,  as  they  were  strag- 
glers from  the  main  body  of  the  insurgents,  who  had 
taken  another  road ;  and  using  many  expedients  to  elude 
all  inquiry  on  our  business,  but  particularly  calling  out 
to  the  fugitives  to  collect  at  the  Three  Rocks,  (the  place 
appointed  for  the  insurgents  to  wait  until  the  conclusion 
of  the  negotiation  then  on  foot,)  we  at  last  arrived  in 
sight  of  the  army  at  Darby-gap,  where  Captain  M'Ma- 
nus threw  off  a  top  coat  which  I  had  the  precaution  to 
make  hits  wear  over  his  regimentals.  We  then  hoisted 
a  white  handkerchlaf  a*  our  flag  ;  and  could  descry  the 
country  all  along  between  that  and  Enniscorthy  in  a 
most  dreadful  situation  ;  houses  on  fire,  dead  men  and 
women  strewed  along  the  road,  and  in  the  fields ;  while 
the  soldiers  were  hunting  for  such  as  might  be  eonceaies 
in  the  ditches,  and  bringing  down  every  person  they 
met ;  in  fine,  it  was  altogether  a  dreadful  picture,  exhi- 
biting all  the  horrors  of  war !  A  small  party  of  the 
Antrim  militia  happened  to  be  among  the  first  of  the 
soldiery  that  we  met,  and  these  hailed  their  officer  with 
the  most  heartfelt  demonstrations  of  joy,  and  conducted 
us  safely  to  Drumgold,  where  we  met  Major-general  Sir 
lames  Duff,  who  led  us  into  Enniscorthy  to  General  Lake, 
.lie  commander-in-chief,  to  whom  we  delivered  our  dis- 
patches The  remains  of  the  town  exhibited  a  dreadful 
"<si)ect,  as  the  greater  part  of  the  houses,  which  had  es- 


\RXfH  REBELLION.. 


raped  until  the  arrival  of  the  army,  were  still  on  fire; 
and  the  house  which  had  been  used  as  an  hospital  by  the 
insurgents,  and  which  was  set  on  fire  with  all  the  pa- 
tients in  it,  continued  burning  until  next  morning,  when 
I  saw  a  part  of  a  corpse  still  hissing  in  the  embers. 

The  news  of  our  arrival  having  quickly  spread  through 
the  town,  numbers  of  officers,  yeomen,  and  gentlemen  of 
my  acquaintance  crowded  around  me  ;  some  anxious  to 
hear  of  their  friends,  while  others  expressed  how  disap- 
pointed they  would  be  if  hindered  to  demolish  Wexford 
with  all  the  concomitant  horrors  and  atrocities  usual  on 
such  dreadful  and  shocking  occasions !  Some  had  the 
savage  indecency  even  to  mention  some  young  ladies  by 
name,  who,  they  intended,  should  experience  the  effects 
of  their  brutal  passions  before  they  would  put  them  to 
death  ;  but  these  intentions  they  feared  would  be  frus- 
trated by  the  account  I  gave  them  of  the  proposal  and 
dispatches ;  others  wished  the  extermination  of  all  Ca- 
tholics ! — some  inquired  for  their  friends  and  relations, 
and  amidst  these  horrors  were  not  destitute  of  humanity. 
While  I  was  thus  conversing  with  many  of  various  de- 
scriptions, Major-General  Sir  James  Duff  kindly  came 
to  me,  and  entreated  that  I  would  go  into  the  house 
irhere  the  commander-in-chief  was,  and  by  no  means  to 
remain  in  the  streets ;  for  that  if  I  did  he  entertained 
great  apprehensions  I  might  fall  a  sacrifice  to  the  furious 
disposition  of  many  persons  in  military  array — offering 
at  the  same  time  to  bring  me  any  gentleman  I  wanted, 
as  he  should  be  sorry  I  should  endanger  my  person  o  ' 
Which  I  ought  then  to  be  particularly  careful,  as,  if  1 
were  to  meet  with  any  accident,  it  might  put  a  stop  to 
»ny  farther  negotiation  on  so  desirable  an  object  as  I  was 
endeavouring  to  obtain.  I  then  went  into  the  house, 
w^ere  I  continued  the  whole  of  that  day,  and  remained 
rhe  whole  night  also,  as  upon  soliciting  an  answer  to 
the  dispatches,  the  commander-in-ckief  signified  that 
we  should  not  get  it  until  the  next  morning.  Some  of 
my  friends  have  since  informed  me  that  they  prevented 
several  persons  who  were  on  the  point  of  shooting  me 
from  putting  their  murderous  intentions  into  effect,  in 
the  streets  of  Enniscorthy.  Captain  O'llea,  of  the  North 
Cork  militia,  and  Mr.  Cloney,  arrived  about  two  hours 


198 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


after  Captain  M'Manus  and  myself  in  Ennlscorthy 
They,  having  taken  the  road  direct  from  Wexford,  met 
the  main  body  of  the  insurgents  on  their  retreat ;  and 
the  several  chiefs,  having  first  read  the  dispatches  and 
proposal,  permitted  them  to  be  forwarded  without  fur- 
ther interruption  :  they  were  not  sealed,  to  obviate  the 
danger  such  a  step  might  occasion. 

Captain  Bourke  of  the  North  Cork  Militia,  and  Mr. 
Robert  Carty  proceeded  to  Taghmon,  and  delivered  their 
proposal  and  dispatches  to  General  Moore,  who  had 
already  begun  his  march,  which  he  pursued  for  a  mile 
beyond  Taghmon,  when  he  halted  on  perceiving  a  great 
concourse  of  people  on  the  mountain  of  Forth.  He 
then  sent  back  Mr.  Carty  to  Lord  Kirigsborougb,  with 
directions  to  return  to  him  with  further  accounts  of 
the  state  of  the  country,  and  new  dispatches.  The 
insurgents,  on  their  defeat  at  Enniscorthy  and  Vinegar 
Hill,  retreated  along  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Slaney,  over 
Carrig-bridge,  and  so  on  to  the  Three-rocks,  on  the 
mountain  of  Forth,  where  they  were  now  observed  by 
General  Moore,  and  so  occasionocl  Mr.  Carty's  return  to 
Wexford  for  further  information,  On  the  arrival  of  the 
insurgents  at  the  station  of  the  Three-rocks,  several  dis- 
cussions took  place  relative  to  the  proposals  for  the  sur- 
render of  the  town  of  Wexford,  into  which  they  could 
not  finally  be  restrained  from  coming,  Among  those 
who  thus  hastily  rushed  into  the  town,  there  were  some 
turbulent  spirits,  a  circumstance  unavoidable  on  such 
occasions,  and  in  such  an  assemblage.  These,  appre- 
hensive of  their  situations,  exerted  every  means  in  their 
power  to  prevent  an  accommodation,  although  earnestly 
wished  for  by  all  the  chiefs  as  well  as  by  the  great  body  of 
the  people.  Lord  Kingsborough,  after  he  had  assumed 
the  military  command  of  the  town,  went  to  the  house 
of  Mr.  Meyler,  where  he  was  when  this  concourse  of 
people  arrived,  arid  they  insisted  that  his  lordship  and 
the  other  officers  should  come  out  to  their  camp  in  order 
as  they  said,  to  procure  the  like  terms  for  themselves  as 
for  the  inhabitants  of  Wexford.  His  lordship  and  the 
officers  should  certainly  have  gone  out  to  camp,  on  this 
occasion,  but  for  the  interference  of  Mr.  Fitzgerald,  who 
(liiiuaded  them  from  consenting  to  a  measure  that  would 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


199 


endanger  the  lives  of  the  prisoners  should  they  leave  the 
town.  The  principal  inhabitants  had  before  determined 
to  march  out. with  them,  in  order  to  protect  them  from 
any  violence  that  might  be  attempted  against  them;  and 
their  united  efforts,  assisted  by  the  timely  interposition 
of  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Caulfield,  the  Roman  Catholic 
bishop  of  Ferns,  prevented  any  further  urgency.  The 
people  were  addressed  from  the  windows  of  the  house, 
in  which  an  assembly  took  place  for  the  purpose  of 
devising  the  best  means  of  preventing  mischief  and  ir- 
regularity :  the  people  were  entreated  and  supplicated  to 
desist  from  their  intentions,  as  Lord  Kingsborough  had 
given  the  most  solemn  assurances  that  they  should  have 
as  good  terms  as  he  had  promised  the  inhabitants  ot 
Wexford  ;  and  he  moreover  advised  them  to  go  to  their 
camp,  and  not  to  lay  down  their  arms  until  these  terms 
would  be  perfectly  secured. 

It  was  Lord  Kingsborough's  own  proposal,  that  tbo 
insurgents  should  remain  encamped  at  Three  Rocks  untij 
they  would  secure  the  sime  terms  with  the  inhabitants 
of  Wexford,  which  it  was  naturally  supposed  would  be 
ratified  ;  and  it  is  much  to  be  lamented  that  they  did  not 
return  thither,  as  from  the  commanding  situation  of  the 
Three  Rocks  it  would  be  very  difficult  to  dislodge  them  ; 
besides,  by  securing  the  pass  at  Carrig-bridge,  the  Slaney 
would  have  formed  a  very  strong  barrier  against  the  ap- 
proach of  the  forces  coming  from  Enniscorthy  ;  and  the 
insurgents  would  by  these  means  have  appeared  so  for- 
midable as  to  induce  the  granting  of  the  terms  demanded, 
and  which  good  policy  so  strongly  dictated.  This  would 
have  put  an  end  to  any  further  disturbance,  and  peace 
would  have  been  immediately  restored ;  nor  would  the 
desolation  which  afterwards  disfigured  the  country  at  all 
nave  taken  place ;  and  the  lives  of  many  sacrificed  to  the 
fury  of  the  times  would  have  been  secured  ;  while  it 
would  have  ensured  the  certain  punishment  of  all  mur- 
derers and  assassins,  many  of  whom,  by  the  conduct  that 
was  pursued,  escaped  the  end  so  justly  due  to  their 
enormous  crimes.  The  amnesty  bill  afterward  secured 
the  greatest  part  of  the  benefits  claimed  by  the  proposals, 
"frith  the  exception  of  ofneers,  who,  if  they  had  not 
■•elied  on  the  granting  of  these  terms,  would  not  have 


200 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


remained  in  Wexford,  but  would  have  proceeded  with  the 
insurgents,  and  so  have  saved  their  lives  and  propertie 
as  well  as  others  who  fought  their  way,  and  at  length 
obtained  favourable  terms :  so  that  all  the  evil  conse- 
quences that  <  nsued  are  attributable  to  the  impolicy  o 
refusing  the  proposed  terms,  which,  it  is  to  be  presumed, 
had  there  beei  a  possibility  of  obtaining  Lord  CornwalhV  s 
sentiments,  would  have  been  readily  complied  with;  but 
unfortunately  for  the  county  of  Wexford,  he  had  landed 
in  Ireland  but  the  day  before,  and  his  system  could  not 
be  sent  forward  to  counteract  that  which  existed  befor* 
his  arrival. 

Captain  John  Murphy,  whose  humanity  had  been  80 
conspicuous  with  his  guos-men  on  Vinegar  Hill,  was  now 

posted  on  the  gaol  lor  the  protection  of  the  prisoners 
from  the  infernal  fury  of  Captain  Dixon,  who  wished  to 
renew  the  diabolical  cruelties  he  had  been  unfortunately 
able  to  put  in  execution  the  day  before,  in  the  absence 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Wexford  who  were  now  returned, 
and  determined  to  protect  the  remaining  prisoners  at  the 
risk  of  their  own  lives.  T\is  they  were  happily  able  to 
effect,  as  the  murderers  were  too  cowardly  to  attempt 
any  thing  that  portended  danger  to  themselves.  No  one 
was  therefore  put  to  death  on  this  day,  but  Ensign  Har- 
man,  of  the  North  Cork  militia,  who  was  going  out  with 
Mr.  Carty,  to  General  Moore,  to  whom  they  were  now 
proceeding  on  a  second  mission,  with  fresh  dispatches 
from  Lord  Kingsborough.  They  had  but  just  got  outside 
the  town,  when  unfortunately  met  by  a  furious  maniac, 
named  Timothy  Whelan,  who  instantly  shot  Ensign 
Harman,  and  snapped  a  pistol  at  Mr.  Carty,  who  then 
thought  it  prudent  to  return,  thus  narrowly  escaping 
with  his  life.  This  ruffian  afterward  had  the  audacity  ta 
attempt  the  life  of  Lord  Kingsborough,  in  order  to  put 
at  end  at  once  to  all  accommodation,  not  meeting  with 
his  approbation  ;  he  would  have  been  ordered  for  instant 
execution  by  the  chiefs,  but  for  fear  of  irritating  the 
great  body  cf  the  populace,  too  ready,  on  such  occasions 
and  in  such  turbid  times,  to  mistake  desperacy  for  he- 
roism, and  to  attempt  the  most  violent  deeds  themselves 
if  thwarted  in  their  inclinations,  or  by  meddling 
their  favourites 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


The  insurgents  were  at  length  prevailed  on,  by  the 
neessant  entreaties  and  exertions  of  their  chiefs,  to  quit 
the  town  of  Wexford.  They  now  divided  themselves 
into  two  bodies :  the  one  under  the  command  of  the 
Rev.  Philip  Roche  marched  into  the  barony  of  Forth, 
and  encamped  that  night  at  Sledagh  ;  the  other,  under 
the  conduct  of  Messrs.  Fitzgerald,  Perry,  and  Edward 
Roche,  proceeded  over  the  bridge  to  Peppard's  castle, 
where  they  took  their  station  for  that  night. 

General  Moore,  although  he  had  orders  not  to  proceed- 
farther  than  Taghmon  on  that  day,  that  he  might  co- 
operate, on  the  21st,  in  the  general  attack  on  Wexford; 
yet  from  the  present  complexion  of  affairs,  advanced 
toward  that  town,  having  perceived  the  departure  of  the 
people  from  the  Three  Rocks ;  and  having  been  also 
informed,  by  Captain  Bourke,  of  the  peaceable  disposition 
of  the  Wexford  people.  Concerning  the  latter  circum- 
stance, Captain  Boyd  (now  returning  home  in  General 
Moore's  train,)  very  prudently  made  many  cautious 
and  strict  inquiries,  requiring  several  assurances  of  the 
fact,  from  Captain  Bourke,  who  had  been  sent  out  in 
that  direction  from  Wexford ;  in  addition  to  which  he 
could  himself,  from  the  commanding  elevation  of  the 
road  he  took,  observe  the  retreat  of  the  insurgents  over 
the  bridge,  before  he  ventured  into  the  town,  which,  after 
the  most  minute  circumspection,  he  at  length  entered, 
attended  by  some  yeomen,  almost  with  as  much  precipi- 
tancy as  he  had  formerly  abandoned  it.  Some  sfcra.  gling 
wretches  of  country  people  were  put  to  death  on  this 
triumphant  occasion.  All  the  green  ornaments,  that  had 
been  so  conspicuously  exhibited  hitherto,  were  now  torn 
down ;  and  some  persons,  who  but  the  moment  before 
appeared  anxious  to  demonstrate  their  friendship  for  the 
people,  changed  sides  as  quick  as  lightning,  and  endea- 
voured to  exhibit  every  symptom  of  loyalty.  General 
Moore,  on  consultation  with  Lord  Kingsborough,  thought 
it  most  advisable  not  to  let  his  troops  into  the  town, 
which  it  had  been  determined  to  annihilate  previous  to  the 
negotiation,  and  in  consequence  of  this  circumstance,  of 
which  the  army  was  perfectly  aware,  it  required  the 
utmost  precaution  to  prevent  its  being  plundered,  sacked, 
and  destroyed,  with  the  attendant  atrocities.  The  town's- 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


people  now  felt  the  utmost  anxiety  at  not  receiving  any 
answer  either  to  their  own  proposal  or  Lord  Kingsbo 
rough's  dispatches,  and  as  even  those  which  had  been 
forwarded  to  General  Moore  himself,  he  had  sent  oi? 
requesting  further  orders  from  General  Lake.  General 
Moore  now  took  his  station  on  the  Windmill  hills,  taking 
every  precaution,  and  having  the  advantage  of  a  large 
park  of  artillery ;  while  the  situation  itself  completely 
commanded  the  town  of  Wexford.  The  Chapman  sloop 
of  war,  commanded  by  Captain  Keen,  took  her  station 
outside  the  harbour,  too  shallow  for  her  to  enter,  and 
three  guns-boats  were  sent  to  attack  the  fort  of  lioslare, 
which  was  previously  abandoned,  and  therefore  they 
thence  proceeded  opposite  the  town,  completely  com- 
manding the  wooden -bridge  and  adjacent  strand;  so  that 
Wexford  was  now  thoroughly  invested  both  by  land  and 
Water.  On  the  approach  of  the  army,  too,  all  the  wounded 
men  in  the  hospital  were  put  to  the  sword,  and  some  of 
the  straggling  inhabitants  lost  their  lives,  notwithstand- 
ing the  express  orders  of  General  Moore,  that  no  kind 
of  excess  should  be  committed. 

At  three  o'clock  a.m.  of  the  22d,  the  trumpet  sounded 
for  the  army  to  march  from  Enniscorthy,  and  every  one 
was  on  foot  as  soon  as  possible.  Shortly  after,  Captain 
M'Manus  and  myself,  as  well  as  Captain  O'Hea  and  Mr. 
Cloney,  were  required  to  wait  on  General  Luke,  who 
delivered  me  his  answer  to  the  proposal  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town  of  Wexford,  and  desired  me  to  read  it. 
It  was  as  follows  : — 

"  Lieutenant-general  Lake  cannot  attend  to  any  terms 
oy  rebels  in  arms  against  their  sovereign  :  while  they 
continue  so,  he  must  use  the  force  entrusted  to  him  with 
the  utmost  energy  for  their  destruction.  To  the  deluded 
multitude  he  promises  pardon  on  their  delivering  into  his 
hands  their  leaders,  surrendering  their  arms,  and  return- 
ing with  sincerity  to  their  allegiance. 

"  Signed,  G.  Lake. 

»'  Enniscorthy,  June  22d,  1798." 

On  reading  this,  I  expressed  my  fears  that  such  an 
answer  would  not  be  pleasing  to  the  people  of  Wexford, 


REBELLION. 


20 


is  it  did  not  ratify  the  terms  solemnly  promised  by  Lord 
Kingsborough ;  but  General  Lake  would  not  allow  further 
*j-xA>ianation  on  the  subject,  as  he  declared  lie  would  not 
confirm  any  promise  made  by  Lord  Kingsborough,  ta 
whose  dispatches  he  would  not  even  return  anv  answer 
He  then  ordered  that  I  should  be  conducted  by  an  officer, 
whom  he  named  to  the  head  of  the  army,  whence  I  was 
to  proceed  to  Wexford,  and  thence  to  return  to  him,  with 
all  convenient  speed,  with  the  determination  of  the  in- 
habitants, as  he  niLiitioned  he  would  not  discontinue  the 
march  of  the  troops,  and  that  if  any  fatality  should 
happen  Lord  Kingsborough,  or  any  of  the  prisoners, 
nothing  should  dissuade  him  from  his  original  intention 
of  annihilating  the  town.  I  was  also  warned  by  him,  on 
pain  of  death,  to  return  to  him  with  a  positive  answer, 
and  to  bring  Lord  Kingsborough  along  with  me  ;  and  if 
on  my  approach  to  Wexford,  1  should  not  think  it  safe 
for  the  officer  accompanying  me  to  gotinto  the  town,  I 
should  return  with  that  information  immediately  ;  and 
that  if  any  thing  should  happen  to  the  officer  or  to  me, 
in  consequence  of  having  brought  the  dispatches  and 
proposal,  the  town  of  Wexford  was  not  to  be  spared.  I 
was  then  questioned  about  the  state  of  the  country,  the 
bridges,  roads,  and  the  like  ;  and  General  Lake  tinding 
upon  inquiry  what  road  I  was  to  take,  that  I  should  not 
want  an  escort  until  I  would  reach  General  Keedham'a 
division,  encamped  at  Ballenkeele,  he  sent  orders  to  him 
by  me,  to  furnish  me  with  any  escort  I  might  require,  to 
conduct  me  safe  to  Wexford.  Captain  O'Hea  and  I 
rere  then  led  to  the  head  of  the  army  by  a  general  officer, 
jind  we  set  off  with  all  expedition,  to  avoid  as  much  as 
possible  the  horrid  spectacle  of  tlu  dead  bodies  of  men 
and  women  strewed  along  the  roads  and  over  the  adjacent 
fields:  some  bearing  marks  of  the  most  ravage  and  indecent 
cruelty  ;  some  ^nh  their  bowels  ripped  open,  and  others 
wTiih  their  brai.-s  dashed  out — situations  which  they  did 
not  all  exhibit  the  day  before,  when  I  saw  them  lying 
dead  on  my  way  to  Enniscorthy  ! !  I 

On  delivering  my  orders  to  General  ^Needham.,  while 
the  escort  was  getting  ready  I  was  surrounded  by  several 
officers  and  yeomen,  who  expressed  like  savage  sentiments 
yitb  those  I  heard  the  day  before  at  Enniscorthy  ;  and  I 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


was  truly  astonished  to  hear  men  of  such  rank  and  edu- 
cation as  they  were,  making  use  of  such  language.  Some, 
however,  expressed  anxiety  tempered  with  humanity. 
The  escort  being  got  ready,  consisting  of  a  troop  of  the 
Ancient  Britons,  and  a  trumpeter,  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain Wynne,  we  set  off,  and  could  learn  nothing  along 
the  road  but  the  mournful  lamentations  of  women,  the 
country  having  been  abandoned  by  the  men  !  When  we 
arrived  near  Castle-bridge,  I  proceeded  for  some  distance 
by  myself  to  reconnoitre^and  perceiving  no  interruption, 
I  called  on  the  escort  to  come  on  ;  and  when  we  came  in 
sight  of  Wexford,  the  trumpet  was  sounded,  and  I  hoisted 
a  white  handkerchief  to  announce  our  arrival ;  but  we 
did  not  learn  that  the  town  had  surrender  d  to  General 
Moore  until  we  arrived  at  Ferry-bank,  adjoining  the 
wooden  bridge.  As  this  was  not  as  yet  passable  for 
horses,  as  the  loose  planks  that  had  been  laid  on  where 
the  flooring  was  burned,  were  thrown  off  on  the  retreat 
of  the  insurgents,  Captain  Wynne  and  I  proceeded  on 
foot  as  far  as  the  portcullis,  which  had  been  hoisted  since 
the  preceding  evening.  We  were  therefore  detained  for 
half  an  hour,  till  orders  were  given  to  let  it  down.  Dur-^ 
ing  the  time  that  we  were  thus  detained,  I  saw  the  pri- 
son-ship and  several  other  vessels  set  on  fire  ;  many 
more  were  afterwards  burned ;  and  all  the  ships  in  the 
harbour  that  were  not  consumed  were  so  far  considered 
as  prizes  taken  from  the  insurgents,  that  the  owners  were 
obliged  to  pay  salvage  !  When  the  draw-bridge  was  let 
down,  we  waited  on  Lord  Kingsborough,  to  whom  I 
made  known  the  orders  I  had  to  bring  him  out  to  Gene- 
ral Lake ;  but  he  declared  he  could  not  possibly  comply, 
as  he  had  been  appointed  by  General  Moore  to  command 
in  the  town.  He,  however,  wrote  a  letter,  excusing  his 
attendance  •  and  on  receipt  of  this,  I  setoff  with  Captain 
Wynne  and  his  troop  of  horse,  which  had  by  this  time 
crossed  the  bridge,  in  order  to  return  to  General  Lake ; 
and  we  met  him  a  little  outside  the  town,  as,  on  hearing 
what  had  happened,  he  moved  forward  with  all  expedition  ; 
and,  on  delivering  him  Lord  Kingsborough's  letter,  we 
formed  pa*t  of  his  suite  on  his  entrance  into  Wexford.  The 
preservation  of  this  town  may,  indeed,  be  recorded  as  a 
wonderful  event,  as  its  destruction  seemed  as  determined 


IRISH  REEELLION. 


205 


r.s  that  of  Nineveh  ;  and  yet  its  state,  then  and  :aow, 
bearing  so  few  marks  of  depredation  or  direption  of  any 
kind,  is  a  circumstance  that  has  surprised  all  who  have 
visited  it  since,  and  who  observed  the  desolation  that  pre- 
vailed in  all  other  directions  where  disturbances  had  ex- 
isted. 

Relying  on  the  faith  of  Lord  Kingsborough's  promises 
of  complete  protection  of  persons  and  properties,  several 
remained  in  the  town  of  Wexford,  unconscious  of  any 
reason  to  apprehend  danger ;  but  they  were  soon  taken 
ap,  and  committed  to  gaol.  The  Kev.  Philip  Roche  had 
such  confidence  in  these  assurances,  and  was  so  certain 
of  obtaining  similar  terms  for  those  under  his  command, 
that  he  left  his  force  at  Sledagh,  in  full  hopes  of  being 
permitted  to  return  in  peace  to  their  homes,  and  was  on 
his  way  to  Wexford  unarmed,  coming,  as  he  thought, 
to  receive  a  confirmation  of  the  conditions,  and  so  little 
apprehensive  of  danger,  that  he  advanced  within  the 
lines  before  he  was  recognised,  when  all  possibility  of 
escape  was  at  an  end.  He  was  instantly  dragged  from 
his  horse,  and  in  the  most  ignominious  manner  taken  up 
to  the  camp  on  the  Wind-mill  hills,  pulled  by  the  hair, 
kicked,  buffetted,  and  at  length  hauled  down  to  the  gaol 
in  such  a  condition  as  scarcely  to  be  known.  The  peo- 
ple whom  he  had  left  in  expectation  of  being  permitted 
to  return  quietly  home,  waited  his  arrival ;  but  at  last 
being  informed  of  his  faie,  they  abandoned  all  idea  of 
peace,  and  set  off  under  the  command  off  the  Rev.  John 
Murphy  to  Fqoks's-mill.  and  so  on,  through  Scollagh- 
gap,  into  the  county  of  Carlow. 

From  the  encampment  at  Ballenkeele,  commanded  by 
General  Xeedham,  detachments  were  sent  out  to  scour 
the  country.  They  burned  the  Catholic  chapel  of  Balle- 
murrin,  situate  on  the  demesne  of  Ballenkeele,  on  which 
they  were  encamped,  besides  several  houses  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood.^ The  principal  of  these  was  that  of  Xewpark, 
the  seat  of  Mr.  Fitzgerald  ;  which,  along  with  all  the 
out  offices,  haggard  of  corn,  by  far  the  largest  in  the 
county  of  Wexford,  a  malt-house  containing  fifuen  hun- 
dred barrels  of  malt,  and  a  thousand  barrels  of  barley, 
were  entirely  consumed ;  as  were  also  the  house,  offices, 
and  malt-house,  containing  a  thousand  barrels  of  malt, 


206 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


at  Ballimore,  belonging  to  Mr.  Edmund  Stafford,  mis. 
taken,  as  I  have  been  informed,  for  the  dwelling  and 
property  of  General  Edward  Uochc ;  besides  a  great 
number  of  houses  of  inferior  note.    In  short  death  and 
desolation  were  spread  throughout  the  country,  which 
was  searched  and  hunted  so  that  scarcely  a  man  es 
caped  ;  and  the  old,  who  were  feeble  and  decrepid  with 
age,  and  who  could  not  therefore  easily  move  out  of  the 
way,  as  well  as  the  idiots  or  fools,  were  the  victims  on 
this  occasion  ;  as  almost  all  such  as  had  the  use  of  their 
limbs  and  intellects  had  previously  made  oft*  with  the 
main  body  of  the  people.    The  dead  bodies  were  to  be 
seen  scattered  about,  with  their  throats  cut  across  and 
mangled  in  the  most  shocking  manner.    It  is  soarce'y 
possible  to  describe  all  the  horror9  and  devastations  that 
took  place,  as  all  the  atrocities  of  war  were  most  wofully 
exhibited.    The  fair  sex  became  the  prey  of  the  lustful 
soldiery;  a^d  female  beauty,  which  at  all  other  times 
may  be  considered  a  blessing,  now  became  a  curse,  as 
women  paid  dearly  for  their  personal  charms,  which 
failed  not  to  augment  the  general  brutality  of  these 
odious  and  detestable  deeds  !    What  must  be  the  pang3 
of  a  mother  on  seeing  her  beloved  favourite  child  dragged 
from  her  by  the  ruffian  hands  of  an  unfeeling  monster, 
glorying  in  his  barbarity,  and  considering  his  crime 
meritorious  in  proportion  to  its  enormity  ;  spreading 
deatli  and  disease  to  the  utmost  extent  of  his  depraved 
capacity  !    The  Hompeseh  dragoons  are  held  in  peculiar 
remembrance  on  this  occasion,    Indeed^the  ferocity  of 
the  soldiery  in  general  was  such  at  this  period,  that  the 
women  and  children  through  the  country  even  now  are 
worked  up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  horror  at  the  sight  of 
a  military  man,  as  bringing  to  their  recollection  all  the 
1  arbarous  scenes  of  which  they  had  been  formerly  wit- 
nesses !    Notwithstanding  the  abominations  of  the  vilest 
of  pikemen,  it  is  a  well-established  fact,  that  during  the 
period' of  their  uncontrollable  sway,  no  female,  not  even 
one  of  the  wives  or  daughters  of  those  whom  they  con- 
sidered their  greatest  enemies,  ever  suffered  any  kind  of 
violation  from  them ;  and  their  general  respect  for  tho 
sex  is  as  true  as  it  is  wonderful  ;  and  their  forbearanc* 
in  this  paulc^Uj  is  as  remarkably  civilized  as  the  cou 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


207 


duct  of  the  troops  was  savage,  sparing  neither  friend  nor 
foe  in  their  indiscriminate  and  licentious  brutality! 

The  northern  part  of  the  county  of  Wexford  had  Lc-en 
almost  totally  deserted  by  all  the  male  inhabitant  on 
the  19th,  at  the  approach  of  the  army  under  General 
Needham.  Some  of  the  yeomanry,  who  formerly  de- 
serted it  returned  to  Gorey  on  the  21st,  and  on  finding 
no  officer  of  the  army,  as  was  expected*  to  command 
there,  they,  wiih  many  others  who  returned  along  wuh 
them,  scoured  the  country  round,  and  killed  great  num- 
bers in  their  houses,  besides  all  the  stragglers  they  met, 
most  of  whom  were  making  the  best  of  their  way  home 
unarmed  from  the  insurgents,  who  were  then  believed 
to  be  totally  discomfited.  These  transactions  being  made 
known  to  the  great  bady  of  the  insurgents  encamped  at 
Peppard's  Castle  on  the  22nd,  they  resolved  to  retaliate, 
and  directly  marched  for  Gorey,  whither  they  had  other- 
wise no  intention  of  proceeding.  The  yeomen  and  their 
assoc  iates,  whose  conduct  had  been  so  conspicuous  on  the 
day  be  fore,  made  some  show  of  resistance,  ha  ing  pro- 
ceeded some  little  distance  outride  the  town  as  it  were 
boldly  to  meet  the  Orce  coming  against  them  ;  but  upon 
the  near  approach  of  the  insurgents,  they  fled  back  with 
the  uundst  precipitation  ;  and  thence  accompanied  by  a 
preat  many  others,  hastened  toward  Arklow,  but  were 
pursued  as  far  as  CoolgreBey.w  ith  the  loss  of  forty.se ven 
men  'I  he  insurgents  had  been  cxaspera'ed  to  this  ven- 
geance by  di>c\>Vcring  through  the  country  as  they  came 
along,  several  dead  men  with  their  skulls  split  asunder, 
their  bowels  ripped  open,  and  their  throats  cut  across, 
besides  some  dead  women  and  children  :  they  even  met 
the  dead  bodies  of  two  women,  about  which  the  surviv- 
ing children  were  creeping,  and  bewailing  them,  poor  in- 
nocents !  with  piteous  cries  !  These  sights  hastened  the 
insurgent  force  to  Gorey,  where  their  exasperation  was 
considerably  augmented  by  discovering  the  bodies  of 
nine  men,  who  had  been  hanged  the  day  before,  devour- 
ing by  pigs  in  the  streets,  others  recently  shot,  and  some 
still  expiring. 

After  the  return  of  the  insurgents  from  the  pursuit, 
several  persons  were  found  lurking  in  the  town  and 
brought  before  Mr.  Fitzgerald,  particularly  Mr.  Pip- 


208 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


pard,  sovereign  of  Gorey;  but  from  this  gentleman  a 
age  and  respectability,  he  was  considered  incapable  of 
being  accessary  to  the  perpetration  of  the  horrid  cruelty 
which  provoked  and  prompted  this  sudden  revenge,  and 
he  and  others  were  saved,  protected,  and  set  at  liberty. 
At  this  critical  time  the  news  of  the  burning  of  Mr 
Fitzgerald's  house,  haggard,  and  malt-houses,  by  which 
he  lost  several  thousand  pounds,  arrived  ;  and,  had  the 
smallest  seed  of  rancour  or  cruelty  existed  in  the  mind 
of  such  a  sufferer,  he  might  have  so  far  felt  it  on  this 
occasion  as  not  to  restrain  the  insurgents  from  extermi- 
nating Gorey,  which  they  were  loudly  proclaiming  as  a 
just  retaliation  for  the  devastation  committed  on  so  great 
a  favourite  of  the  people.  The  magnanimity  and ''for- 
bearance of  Mr.  Fitzgerald  at  so  trying  a  crisis  are  truly 
remarkable,  as,  forgetful  of  such  great  personal  injury* 
he  exerted  his  utmost  endeavours  to  restrain  the  insur- 
gents, vociferating  vengeance  for  his  wrongs,  arid  sue- 
ceeded  in  leading  them  off  from  Gorey ;  when  after  a 
slight  repast,  they  resumed  their  intended  route,  rested 
that  night  at  the  White  heaps  on  Croghan  mountain, 
and  on  the  23d  set  off*  for  the  mountains  of  Wicklow. 

General  Lake  with  some  other  general  officers  re- 
mained for  some  time  in  Wexford.  The  gaol  of  this 
town  was  now  immensely  crowded,  as  almost  every  one 
of  the  principal  inhabitants  were  taken  up  and  arraigned 
for  treason.  Many  of  them,  however,  were  acquitted 
upon  trial,  which  was  by  court-martial,  and  the  greater 
number  received  protections,  according  to  Lord  Corn- 
wallis's  proclamation.  Captain  Keugh  had  remained  at 
Lord  Kingsborough's  lodgings,  and  after  the  surrender 
of  the  town  two  sentinels  were  placed  on  him  there  for 
two  days,  when  he  was  removed  to  the  gaol.  Mr.  Cor- 
nelius Grogan  was  taken  at  his  seat  in  Johnstown,  where 
he  had  remained,  unconscious  of  any  danger  until  con- 
ducted to  prison.  Mr.  Bagnal  Harvey  had  gone  to  his 
residence  at  Bargy  Castle,  having  no  conception  that  the 
terms  agreed  upon  with  Lord  Kingsborough  would  not 
be  ratified.  Indeed,  so  confident  was  he  of  the  contrary, 
that  he  sent  some  fat  cattle  into  Wexford  for  the  use  o£ 
the  army ;  but  learning  from  the  messenger  who  drove 
them  thither,  that  no  conditions  v-\;&tever  would  be  ob 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


200 


tained,  he  hastened  with  the  fatal  news  to  Mr.  C»»t- 
ough.  This  gentleman  had  previously  taken  his  wife 
and  child  to  one  of  the  Saltee  islands,  where  he  thought 
to  have  weathered  out  the  storm  of  the  angry  time  in  a 
cave,  into  which  he  had  gone  for  concealment  Thither 
Mr.  Harvey  now  also  resorted;  but  they  were  all  soon 
discovered,  and  the  news  of  their  being  taken  arrived  in 
Wexford  while  they  were  being  conveyed  round  to  the 
harbour  in  a  boat.  This  attracted  a  great  number  of 
people  to  the  quay,  curious  to  see  them  brought  in,  and 
tmidst  this  concourse  Air.  Harvey  and  Mr.  Colclough 
and  his  lady  were  landed.  The  gentlemen  were  ;  > 
led  through  the  gazing  multitude  to  the  gaol,  wliere 
they  were  confined  in  the  condemned  cells. 

A  court-martial  was  instituted  for  the  trial  of  pri 
soners  on  charges  of  treason.  The  Rev  Philip  Roche 
was  the  first  tried  and  condemned  by  this  tribunal. 
Captain  Keugh  was  the  next  put  on  his  trial,  at  which 
he  made  a  very  able  defence ;  but  was  nUo  condemned. 
The  entrance  of  the  wooden  bridge  was  the  scene  fixed 
on  for  the  place  of  execution.  The  sufferers  were  hauled 
up  with  pulleys,  made  fast  with  ropes  to  an  ornamental 
iron  arch,  intended  for  lamps,  and  springing  from  the 
two  wooden  piers  of  the  gate  next  the  town.  The  large 
stature  of  the  Rev.  Philip  Roche  caused  the  first  rope 
he  was  hauled  up  with  to  break  ;  but  another  was  soon 
procured,  and  his  life  was  ended  with  double  torture. 
The  head  of  Captain  Keugh  who  suffered  along  with  him, 
was  separated  from  his  body,  and  conspicuously  placed 
on  a  pike  over  the  front  of  the  court-house.  Their 
bodies,  together  with  those  of  others  executed  at  the 
same  time,  were  stripped,  and  treated  with  the  utmost 
brutality  and  indecency,  previous  to  their  being  ti  rown 
over  the  bridge 

Mr.  Grogan  was  brought  to  trial  on  the  26:h,  but  the 
evidence  which  he  hoped  to  obtain  of  his  innocence  did 
not  attend,  on  account  of  the  general  apprehension  that 
prevailed.  His  trial  was  therefore  postponed,  and  he 
M  as  remanded  to  gaol.  Mr.  Harvey  was  then  put  on 
his  trial,  which  lasted  lor  the  best  part  of  the  day,  and 
ended  in  his  condemnation.    Mr.  Grogan's  trial  was  then 

'iimed ;  but  this  he  did  not  expect  until  the  next  day, 


210 


BISTORT  OF  THE 


and  consequently  he  had  not  been  able  to  procure  ail  the 
neces  ary  evidence.  It  was  indeed  proved  that  lie  waa 
forced  to  join  the  insurgents,  but  this  did  not  prevent  a 
sentence  of  his  conviction:  such  was  t  lie  idta  enter- 
tained at  the  time  of  the  necessity  of  public  example! 
The  condemnation  of  these  gentlemen  was  afterwards 
confirmed  by  the  Irish  parliament,  which  passed  an  act 
of  attainder  against  them,  and  a  confiscation  of  their 
properties  ;  notwithstanding  that,  on  parliamentary  in- 
quiry into  the  merits  of  the  proceedings,  it  was  cleat  ly 
proved  that  the  court-martial  had  not  been  even  sworn: 
fo  that  although  their  condemnation  and  the  confiscation 
of  their  properties  be  sanctioned  by  law,  yet  the  justice 
of  the  process  is  very  questionable,  and  the  investigation 
of  it  will  employ  the  pens  of  future  historians  particu- 
larly in  the  case  of  Mr.  Grogan,  who  was  undoubtedly 
sacrificed  to  the  temper  of  the  times.  On  the  27th, 
Messrs.  Harvey.  Grogan,  and  Patrick  Prendergast,  a 
rich  mals-ter  in  Wexford,  were  ordered  out  to  execution. 
M  hen  Mr.  Harvey  was  brought  out  of  his  cell  he  met 
Mr.  Grogan  in  tbe  gaol-yard,  and  accosted  him  in  a  ft  cl- 
ing, affectionate  manner:  while  shaking  hands  with  him 
he  said,  in  the  presence  of  an  officer  and  some  of  the 
guards,  and  in  the  hearing  of  several  prisoners  who  had 
crowded  to  the  windows.  44  Ah  !"  poor  Grogan,  you  die 
an  innocent  man  at  all  events  !*'  They  were  then  con- 
ducted to  the  bridge,  where  they  were  hanged,  when  the 
heads  of  Messrs.  Grogan  and  Harvey  were  cut  off  and 
placed  upon  }  ikes  on  each  side  of  that  of  Captain 
Keugh;  while  their  bodies  and  that  of  Mr.  Prendorgast 
were  stript  and  treated  with  the  utmost  brutal  indecen- 
cies, before  being  cast  over  the  bridge  !  Mr.  Colclough 
was  brought  out  to  trial  on  the  same  day,  and  con- 
demned. On  the  next  day  he  was  executed,  but  his 
body,  at  the  intercession  of  his  lady,  was  given  up  to  her 
to  he  interred.  Mr.  John  Kelly,  of  Killan,  whose  cou- 
rage and  intrepidity  had  been  >o  conspicuous  at  the 
battle  of  Ross,  now  lay  ill  in  Wexford,  of  a  wound  which 
he  had  received  in  that  engagement;  he  was  taken  pri- 
soner from  his  bed,  tried  and  condemned  to  die,  and 
brought  on  a  car  to  the  place  of  execution.  His  head 
mat  cut  off,  and  his  body,  after  the  accustc  med  indigni- 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


ties,  was  thrown  over  the  bridge.  The  head,  however, 
was  reserved  for  other  exhibition.  It  was  first  kicked 
about  on  the  Custom-house  quay,  and  then  brought  up 
into  the  town,  thrown  up  and  treated  in  the  same  man- 
ner opposite  the  house  in  which  his  sister  lodged,  in 
order  that  she  might  view  this  new  and  savage  game  of 
foot-ball,  of  which  when  the  players  were  tired,  the  head 
was  placed  In  the  exalted  situation  to  which  it  had  been 
condemned — above  that  of  Captain  Keugh,  over  the  door 
of  the  court-house. 

On  the  28th,  General  Lake  quitted  Wexford,  leaving 
the  command  there  to  General  Hunter,  whose  conduct 
must  ever  be  remembered  with  gratitude  by  the  people, 
as,  on  several  occasions,  he  checked  the  persecuting 
Spirit  of  the  gentry  and  yeomanry  :  and  this  contributed 
much  more  than  severity,  or  any  other  mode  could  pos- 
sibly do,  to  induce  the  people  to  surrender  their  arms, 
take  out  protections,  and  return  to  their  homes  in  peace. 
Uiis  desirable  object  would  not  have  been  so  happily 
Accomplished  had  he  not  inrerposed  his  authority  so  far, 
as  to  threaten  some  gentlemen  with  punishment,  whose 
habitual  zeal  and  mode  of  Keeping  the  country  quiet,  he 
totally  disapproved  of,  as  he  did  not  wish  to  see  the 
people  again  roused  by  the  continuance  of  their  exer- 
tions. Brigadier-general  Grose  was  stationed,  under  the 
command  of  General  Hunter,  at  Enniscorthy,  where  he 
was  distinguished  for  his  pacific  conduct.  The  first  and 
Coldstream  regiments  of  guards  were  providentially 
placed  in  Ross,  under  the  command  of  General  Gascoigne, 
and  their  conduct  there  must  be  ever  recorded  to  their 
immortal  honour,  as  exhibiting  true  principles  of  justice 
and  philanthropy — stepping  in  between  the  peopie  and 
their  oppressors,  who  were  not  only  restrained  in  their 
career  of  persecution,  but  even  shamed  into  compliance 
with  the  system  of  pacification.  Many  were  released 
from  prison  after  the  severest  treatment  ;  and  on  in- 
quiry into  their  cases,  nothing  could  be  alleged  against 
fitem  They  were  consequtntly  discharged  ;  it  being 
tvident  that  then  confinement  had  been  most  u:;v;-.r- 
ran table,  and  to  be  accounted  for,  only  as  a  part  of  the 
dreadful  system  of  tyranny  and  oppression  which  pre- 
ceded and  produced  so  many  evil  consequences. 


212 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


This  is  strongly  exemplified  in  the  ease  of  Doctor 
Healy.  This  gentlemen  was  a  native  of  Ross,  and  had 
practised  as  a  physician  for  some  years  in  Wexford, 
whence  lie  was  on  his  way,  on  Whitsunday,  to  his  native 
town,  and  stopping  at  Healthfield,  the  seat  of  Mr. -John 
Grogan,  he  found  that  the  latter  wanted  horses  for  some 
of  his  corps  of  yeoman,  to  conduct  Sergeant  Stanley  to 
Waterford.  The  doctor  then  dismounted  his  servant, 
and  gave  the  horse  he  rode  to  Mr.  Grogan  for  the  pur- 
pose required ;  and  pursued  his  journey  to  Ross,  where 
ah  his  i  elaf  lj.is  resided  Some  of  those  who  abandoned 
Wexford  on  tae  28th  of  May,  coming  afterwards  to  Ross, 
had  the  inhumanity  to  get  Doctor  Healy  confined,  and 
the  prevailing  torture  of  whipping  inflicted  on  him.  His 
life  was  consequently  endangered,  and  he  continued  to 
experience  the  mcM  brutal  treatment,  and  was  in  con- 
stant terror  of  being  put  to  death,  until  relieved,  along 
with  many  others,  all  of  whom  appeared  perfectly  inno- 
cent, upon  inqui  y  into  their  situation  ;  and  it  is  natural 
to  suppose  that  heir  enemies  would  have  come  forward 
to  accuse  them,  if  they  had  any  charge  to  make,  were  it 
only  to  give  some  colour  of  justice  to  their  conduct, 
which  appeared  eminently  tyrannical  to  the  officers  o( 
the  guards,  who  had  no  idea  that  such  transactions  could 
have  taken  place  in  any  country. 

I  am  induced  to  insert  the  following  circumstance 
from  Mr.  Alexander's  account,  as  he- was  not  liable  to 
be  imposed  on,  in  this  instance,  by  any  misrepresenta- 
tion : — "Corporal  Morgan  of  the  first  regiment  of  guards, 
observing  a  country-protected  rebel,  whose  house  was 
burned  for  his  crime,  drop  down  at  the  word  of  command, 
upon  his  knees  to  the  gentleman  who  had  burned  his 
house,  ran  hastly  to  the  fellow  and  lifted  him  off  hia 
knies,  exclaiming,  '  Get  up,  you  mean-spirited  boor,  and 
'lo  not  prostrate  yourself  to  any  being  but  your  God : 
kurely,  you  do  not  mistake  this  man  for  that  being?9 
*  Sir,' replied  the  gentleman,  'he  shall  go  on  his  knees 
tome  as  he  ought.'  '  No,  sir,' returned  the  corporal, 
'  he  shall  not ;  at  least  in  my  presence,  and  while  I  have 
the  honour  of  being  in  the  king's  guards.  We  give  the 
Ving  but  one  knee,  and  that  the  left;  reserving  the  right 
fcnee,  as  well  as  the  honour  of  both  for  God,  and  I  tei 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


213 


you  to  jour  fiery  phiz,  (whether  you  believe  me  or  not,) 
»  tint  you  are  neither  a  god  nor  a  kins:,  nor  shall  you  re- 
ceive the  honour  of  either.'  This  was  a  young  man  of 
good  education,  and  in  the  same  Latin  class  with  me,  at 
the  late  Rev.  Mr.  Wesley's  Academy  at  Kings-wood, 
near  Bristol.  He  was  the  son  of  an  eminent  Methodist 
preacher." 

The  conduct  of  those  commanders  last  mentioned  was 
such  as  to  induce  the  people  to  flock  in  with  the  greatest 
confidence  to  procure  protections ;  an  1  the  country  under 
their  benign  influence  soon  assumed  quite  another  ap- 
pearance. Had  the  county  of  Wexford  enjoyed  th 
blessing  of  being  ruled  by  such  men  previous  to  the  in- 
surrection, T  am  fully  persuaded  that  no  disturbance 
would  have  taken  place  there;  and  it  is  to  be  regretted 
that  they  did  not  continue  longer  in  command  than  they 
did,  as  on  their  departure  former  influence  so  far  pre- 
vailed as  to  exhibit  a  tendency  to  persecution,  by  resum- 
ing, as  much  as  possible  their  former  conduct,  which 
dare  not  be  attempted  when  properly  checked  and  under 
due  restraint.  General  Needham  commanded  in  Gorey, 
and  different  other  officers  were  stationed  at  Taghmon, 
and  Ferns  to  grant  protections. 

Although  I  meant  to  confine  myself  in  this  narrative 
to  what  happened  in  the  co  mty  of  Wexford,  yet  it  might 
be  considered  defective,  did  I  not  relate  what  afterwards 
took  place,  until  the  warfare  of  the  Wexford-men  was 
closed  by  surrender  in  the  county  of  Kildare,  under 
Messrs.  Fitzgerald  and  Aylmer. 

The  insurgents  who  passed  west  of  the  Slaney,  under 
the  conduct  of  the  Rev  John  Murphy,  directed  their 
march  to  get  into  the  county  of  Carlow  through  Scol- 
laghgap.  Here  they  met  with  some  opposition  from  a 
small  body  of  troops  placed  their  to  oppose  the  passage. 
These  however,  they  soon  overpowered,  and  burning 
the  village  of  Killedmond  on  the  Carlow  side  of  the  pas3, 
they  continued  their  march  to  Newbridge,  where  they 
arrived  on  the  morning  of  the  23d,  and  quickly  defeat- 
ing a  party  of  horse  and  foot  stationed  at  the  bridge  to 
prevent  their  passing  it,  they  took  twenty-eight  of  the 
Wexford  militia,  part  of  the  force  there  stationed,  but 
the  cavalry  hastily  retreated  to  Kilkenny.    From  this 


214 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


town  Sir  Charles  Asgill  immediately  set  out  to  raset  the 
insurgents  at  Newbridge,  but  was  too  late,  as  they  had 
moved  off  towards  Castlecomer,  in  expectation  of  being 
joined  by  the  colliers,  from  whom  they  expected  con- 
siderable assistance.  On  the  24th,  the  insurgents  pro- 
ceeded from  the  Ridge  of  Leinster,  on  which  .they  rested 
the  night  before,  to  attack  Castlecomer.  Near  this  town 
they  met  a  party  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  men, 
whom  they  obliged  to  retreat  precipitately  before  them 
into  the  body  of  the  pla';e.  A  thick  fog.  however,  pre- 
vented tnem  from  observing  the  great  inferiority  of  their 
opponents,  and  this,  added  to  the  town  being  on  fire, 
(of  which  each  party  accuses  the  other,)  also  prevented 
their  observing  the  approach  of  Sir  Charles  Asgill,  (who 
had  moved  after  them  with  a  large  military  force,)  until 
they  began  to  be  raked  with  grape  shot  from  his  artil- 
lery. This  surprise  forced  the  insurgents,  with  great 
loss,  to  quit  their  enterprize,  the  Wexford  militia  pri- 
soners being  retaken  from  them  ;  but  still  Sir  C.  Asgill 
thought  it  prudent  to  retreat  that  evening  back  to  Kil- 
kenny, accompanied  by  a  vast  number  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Castlecomer,  which,  by-the-bye,  was  instantly 
after  taken  possession  of  again  and  plundered  by  the  in- 
surgents. After  this  they  pushed  on  to  the  Queen's* 
County,  where  they  remained  that  night,  and  finding 
themselves  greatly  disappointed  in  not  being  joined  by 
the  inhabitants,  and  their  own  body  being  considerably 
weakened  by  desertion,  they  resolved  to  return  home  to 
the  county  of  Wexford.  They  accordingly  directed 
their  course  to  Newbridge,  and  encamped  that  night  on 
Kilcomnev  Hill,  where  they  were  surrounded  during  the 
night  of  the  25th  by  a  large  military  force,  consisting  of 
about  five  hundred  of  the  Uownshire  militia,  commanded 
by  Major  Matthews,  who  pursued  them  from  Castle- 
comer, having  first  notified  his  intention  to  Sir  Charles 
Asgill  at  Kilkenny,  who  accordingly  set  out  from  that 
place  at  the  he-ad  of  twelve  hundred  men,  and  arrived 
time  enough  to  vo-operate  in  the  attack.  A  very  thick 
fog  prevented  the  insurgents  from  being  sensible  of  their 
situation  on  the  morning  of  the  26th,  until  they  expe- 
rienced a  severe  discharge  of  cannon  on  one  side,  which 
made  them  shift  their  ground  a  little  ;  but  on  receiving 


IRISH  REBELLION 


215 


h  second  salute  of  the  same  kind  from  another  quarter, 
the  rout  became  general;  and  they  fled  with  great  pre- 
cipitancy :  indeed,  they  must  have  been  entirely  cut  off, 
had  not  the  horsemen  that  were  among  them  railied,  and 
prevented  the  cavalry  from  pursuit ;  in  which  dangerous 
iervice  they  displayed  great  courage  and  intrepidity. 
Die  slaughter,  however,  proved  very  great ;  but  it  is 
.amentable  that  the  greater  part  of  the  slain  on  this 
jeeasion  were  the  people  of  the  adjacent  country,  who 
aad  not  at  all  joined  the  insurgents,  nor  left  their  houses  ; 
and  great  depredations  in  the  way  of  plunder  were  also 
committed  on  all  who  happened  to  be  placed  near  the 
scene  of  action.  This  body  of  Wexford  insurgents,  after 
again  forcing  their  passage  back  through  Scollagh-gap, 
against  some  troops  who  endeavoured  to  oppose  them, 
never  made  its  appearance  again,  as  the  people  dispersed 
and  retired  to  their  several  homes,  except  a  very  few 
who  joined  their  associates  in  the  county  of  Wicklow. 

The  other  body  of  Wexford  insurgents  which  had  pro- 
ceeded, as  nefore  observed,  after  the  attack  upon  Gorey, 
as  far  as  the  White-heaps,  in  the  county  of  Wicklow,  set 
off  on  the  morning  of  the  23d  toward*  the  lead-mines. 
While  resting  in  a  posture  of  defence  on  an  eminence 
near  this  place,  they  perceived  a  body  of  troops  in  the 
hollow  beneath,  nnd  these  fired  some  bomb-shells  at  them 
from  the  opposite  side  of  a  river.  The  insurgents  having 
no  cannon,  retreated  toward  Monaseed,  where  they  halted 
part  of  that  night,  and  arrived  on  the  morning  of  the 
24th  at  Donard,  which  they  found  deserted.  Here  they 
waited  for  some  time  for  refreshment,  and  then  moved 
toward  Glanmullen,  where  they  met  a  small  party  of 
cavalry,  who  fled  at  their  approach.  They  found  "the 
village  of  Aughrim  laid  waste,  and  many'dead  bodits 
bearing  marks  of  cruelty.  From  this  place  they  pro- 
ceeded to  Blessington,  and  although  their  manner  mostly 
was  to  rest  as  much  as  possible  by  day,  and  march  dur- 
ing the  night,  to  avoid  the  pursuit  of  a  body  of  cavalry 
that  was  observed  to  follow  them,  and  which  generally 
appeared  in  view,  they,  however,  encamped  this  night 
at  Ballymanus,  where,  uniting  their  forces  with  those  of 
Mr  Garret  Byrne,  the  whole  moved,  on  the  morning  of 
the  2oth,  toward  Hacketstown,  before  which  they  ap 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


peared  about  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning'.  The  mili- 
tary  were  drawn  up  in  a  small  field  outside  the  town, 
ready  to  receive  them  ;  but  they  were  forced  to  give 
way,  after  the  loss  of  Captain  Hardy  and  four  privates 
of  the  Hacketstown  yeoman  infantry,  while  the  pikemer 
of  the  insurgents  were  wading  across  the  river  to  attack 
the  place  on  all  sides.  The  cavalry  retreated,  and  kept 
aloof  during  the  remainder  of  the  action  ;  but  the  in- 
fantry, consisting  of  about  one  hundred  and  seventy  men, 
retired  into  the  barrack,  and  a  malt-house  adjoining  it, 
from  which  their  fire  did  great  execution,  as  did  that 
from  the  house  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  M'Ghee,  who  defended 
it  with  uncommon  bravery,  his  force  consisting  of  nine 
men  only  ;  but  whose  galling  fire  had  the  greater  effect, 
as  it  commanded  the  main  street,  and  also  that  part  of 
the  barrack  which  was  thought  most  vulnerable.  This 
the  insurgents  endeavoured  Several  times  to  set  fire  to, 
as  they  had  before  to  the  rest  of  the  town ;  but  all  in 
vain.  At  length  they  made  it  desperate  effort  to  accom- 
plish their  purpose.  A  few  men  proceeded  up  to  the 
building,  under  the  cover  of  feather  beds  and  matted 
straw,  fastened  on  cars  :  but  they  were  only  successful 
in  obliging  the  military  to  abandon  the  malt-house,  and 
could  not  by  any  means  get  possession  of  the  barrack  or 
of  Mr.  M'Ghee's  house,  both  so  situated  as  to  support 
each  other.  The  insurgents  at  last  deeming  it  imprac- 
ticable to  effect  their  design  without  cannon,  of  which 
they  had  not  a  single  piece,  retreated  from  the  place, 
after  an  action  of  nine  hours,  in  which  they  had  lost 
great  numbers ;  carrying  off  their  wounded,  and  driving 
before  them  all  the  cattle  from  about  the  town,  they  en- 
camped that  night  at  Blessington.  The  loss  of  the  gar- 
rison was  but  ten  killed,  and  twenty  wounded  ;  however, 
they  thought  it  most  prudent  to  abandon  the  place,  which 
they  did,  and  retreated  that  evening  to  Tullow,  in  the 
county  of  Carlow.  During  the  engagement,  it  is  said 
that  a  considerable  force  of  cavalry  and  infantry  stoo^ 
on  a  hill  at  a  small  distance,  in  view  of  the  scene  of  ac 
tion,  but  did  not  venture  to  join  in  the  battle. 

Disappointed  by  the  repulse  at  Hacketstown,  the  re- 
maining Wexford  insurgents,  in  conjunction  with  their 
Wicklow  associates,  directed  their  march  towards  Car 

f 


IRISH  REBELLIOI 


217 


new,  which  they  were  resolved  if  possible  to  carry  ;  but 
General  Needham,  being  informed  of  their  approach, 
detached  a  strong  body  of  infantry,  and  about  two  hun- 
dred cavalry  from  his  camp  at  Gorey,  to  intercept  them. 
The  cavalry  alone,  however,  as  the  infantry  were  re- 
called, came  up  with  the  insurgents  on  the  road  to  Car- 
new.  These,  feigning  a  retreat,  having  timely  notice  of 
their  approach,  suffered  the  cavalry  to  pass  until  they 
brought  them  into  an  ambuscade,  where  their  gunsmen 
were  placed  on  both  sides  of  the  way,  behind  the  ditches, 
to  receive  them.  At  the  first  discharge  they  were  utterly 
confounded,  and  being  unable  to  give  their  opponents 
any  annoyance,  they  attempted  to  retreat  in  great  haste 
towards  Carnew.  But  here  they  had  to  encounter  ano- 
ther part  of  the  plan  of  ambush  ;  for  the  insurgents, 
rightly  conjecturing  that  when  foiled  they  would  at- 
tempt getting  off  in  that  direction,  had  bloc  ked  up  the 
road  with  cars  and  other  incumbrances,  they  were  for 
some  time  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  insurgents,  and  lost 
about  eighty  of  their  number,  among  whom  were  two 
officers,  Captain  Giffard,  of  the  Ancient  Britons,  and  Mr. 
Parsons,  adjutant  of  the  Ballaghkeen  cavalry  :  the  rest 
effected  their  retreat  to  Arklow.  The  detachment  was 
commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Pulestone  of  the  An- 
cient Britons,  of  whom  twenty  were  amon^  the  slain. 
The  animosity  of  the  people  against  this  regiment,  which 
they  charge  with  being  guilty  of  great  excesses,  may  be 
instanced  in  the  case  of  a  black  trumpeter  belonging  to 
it  who  fell  into  their  hands  alive  on  this  occasion.  When 
seized  upon,  this  man  loudly  declared  that  he  was  a  Ro- 
man Catholic,  and  besought  them  to  spare  him  for  the 
sake  of  his  religion ;  but  his  deeds  with  which  he  was 
upbraided  were  too  recent  and  too  notorious,  and  he  ob- 
tained no  quarter.  The  insurgents  lost  not  a  single  man 
in  this  action  ;  but  they  were  foiled  in  their  design  upon 
Carnew,  the  garrison  of  which,  being  alarmed  by  the  re- 
treating cavalry,  had  just  time  to  secure  themselves  in  a 
malt-house  before  the  approach  of  the  insurgents,  who, 
after  an  ineffectual  attack,  marched  off  to  Killcavan  Hill. 

On  the  2d  of  July,  as  the  insurgents  began  to  move 
toward  Shillelagh,  they  were  pursued  by  a  body  of  yeo- 
men, cavalry  and  infantry,  before  whom  they  retired  to 


218 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


an  eminence  called  Ballyraheen  Hill.  Here  they  took 
post,  but  as  the  yeomen  moved  up  the  hill,  the  insur- 
gents poured  upon  them  with  sucli  impetuosity  and  ve- 
hemence, that  they  were  in  an  instant  totally  discomfited, 
with  the  loss  of  seventy  privates  and  two  officers,  all  in- 
fantry, for  none  of  the  cavalry  fell.  The  officers  were 
Captain  Chamney  of  the  Coolatin,  and  Captain  Nixon  of 
the  Coolkenna  corps ;  besides,  numbers  were  wounded. 
Sixty  privates,  under  Captain  Moreton  of  the  Tinahely, 
and  Lieutenant  Chamney  of  the  Coolattin  yeomen,  re- 
treated into  Captain  Chamney's  house  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill,  whither  they  were  pursued  by  the  insurgents,  who 
continued  to  attack  them  all  night,  but  they  were  re- 
sisted with  the  utmost  bravery  and  coolness,  and  at 
length  repulsed  with  considerable  loss,  to  which  it  is  pro- 
bable the  light  afforded  by  a  house  adjoining,  that  of  Mr. 
Henry  Moreton,  (which  had  been  set  on  fire  by  the  in- 
surgents in  their  frenzy,)  contributed  not  a  little,  as  it 
enabled  those  within  to  aim  with  precision  at  the  assail- 
ants. It  was  several  times  attempted  to  fire  the  house, 
by  approaching  the  door  under  the  cover  of  feather  beds, 
which  proved  unsuccessful. 

The  Wexford  insurgents  next  fixed  their  station  near 
the  White-heaps,  at  the  foot  of  Croghan-mountain  ;  from 
whence  they  moved  during  the  night  of  the  4th,  toward 
Wieklow-gap,  but  were  met  on  the  morning  of  the  5th 
by  the  army  under  Sir  James  Duff  from  Carnew ;  and 
after  some  salutes  from  the  artillery,  they  were  obliged  to 
take  another  direction,  and  turned  toward  Gorey.  But 
the  fact  is,  that  they  were  surrounded  by  four  powerful 
detachments,  before  they  could  perceive  the  approach  of 
any,  in  consequence  of  a  fog  so  dense  that  it  was  impos- 
sible to  distinguish  objects  at  the  distance  of  twenty-yards; 
and  finding  themselves  unable  to  withstand  a  battle,  they 
broke  through  the  pursuing  cavalry  of  Sir  James  Duff's 
army,  of  whom  they  slew  about  eighty;  and  moved  with 
great  celerity  in  the  direction  of  Carnew.  But  upon 
their  arrival  at  a  place  called  Craneford,  by  others  Bally- 
gullen,  they  resolved  to  make  resistance  and  await  the 
approach  of  the  troops  however  numerous,  although  their 
own  force  was  by  this  time  considerably  diminished.  They 
however  maintained  the  contest  for  an  hour  and  a  half, 


IRISH  REBELLION 


210 


displaying  the  greatest  valour,  and  most  intrepid  reso- 
lution ;  having  repulsed  the  cavalry,  and  driven  the  artil- 
lery men  three  times  from  their  cannon,  all  performed  by 
the  gunsmen;  for  the  pikemen,  as  on  former  occasions, 
never  came  into  acticn  ;  but  fresh  reinforcements  of  the 
army,  pouring  in  on  all  sides,  they  were  obliged  to  give 
way,  quitting  the  field  of  battle  with  little  loss  to  them- 
selves, and  notwithstanding  all  their  fatigue,  retreating, 
with  their  usual  agility  and  swiftness,  in  different 
directions;  but  agreed  among  themselves  to  assemble 
again  at  Carrigrew.  A  party  of  these  refugees  were  met 
by  the  Rev.  Peter  Browne,  dean  of  Ferns,  who  was  suf- 
fered to  pass,  and  he  instantly  posted  to  Ferns,  to  inform 
the  King's  County  militia,  quartered  there,  of  the  route 
of  the  flying  insurgents.  The  military  accordingly  set 
out,  with  all  speed,  or.  the  pursuit,  and  killed  such  of 
the  straggling  peasantry  as  they  met  or  came  up  to 
without  mercy.  The  insurgents  thus  narrassed  and 
hunted,  thought  it  advisable,  upon  meeting  at  Carrigrew, 
to  disperse,  and  this  put  an  end  to  the  urn  fare  in  tre 
lounty  of  Wexford. 

A  party  of  insurgents  in  the  county  of  Kildare,  under 
the  command  of  Mr.  William  Axlmer,  still  hplrl  onf,  in. 
arms,  and  thither  the  remaining  body  of  tne  Wexford 
men,  commanded  by  Mr.  Fitzgerald,  accompa-nied  by 
Mr.  Garret  Byrne,  and  some  Wicklow  men,  directed 
their  course  to  form  a  junction,  which  they  accordingly 
etfected.  This  associated  force  moved  from  Prosperous 
to  Clonard,  where  they  met  a  most  determined  asd  suc- 
cessful resistance  from  Lieutenant  Tyrrel,  a  yeoman  offi- 
cer, who,  with  his  corps,  had  occupied  a  fortified  house  in 
the  town.  These  delayed  the  assailants  until  reinforce- 
ments arrived  from  Kinnegad  and  Mullingar,  when  they 
were  forced  to  give  up  the  enterprizc. 

After  this  repulse,  the  few  remaining  Wexford-m^a 
separated  from  their  Wicklow  associates,  whom  they 
deemed  less  warlike  than  themselves,  and  made  different 
incursions  into  the  counties  of  Kildare,  Meath,  Lo'Uh, 
and  Dublin,  eluding,  as  well  as  they  could,  the  pursuit 
of  the  army,  with  different  parties  of  which  they  had 
frequent  skirmishes.  The  night  of  the  repulse  at  Donard, 
they  committed  some  depredations  in  the  village  of  Car- 


220 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


bevy,  in  the  county  of  Kildare.  On  the  next  day,  pur- 
sued by  different  parties  of  military,  they  marched  into 
the  county  of  Meath,  where  they  were  overtaken  and 
put  to  flight  by  Colonel  Gough,  commanding  a  detach- 
ment of  the  county  of  Limerick  militia  from  Edenderry. 
After  this,  two  of  their  leaders,  Mr.  Perry  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Kearns,  endeavouring  to  make  their  escape  by  them- 
selves, were  taken,  tried,  and  condemned  by  court- 
martial,  and  executed  at  Edenderry.  Unable  to  effect 
any  thing  in  the  county  of  Meath,  the  Wexford-men 
crossed  the  Boyne,  near  Duleek,  into  the  county  of 
Louth,  where,  being  pursued  from*  place  to  place,  they 
made  a  most  gallant  resistance  to  the  cavalry  of  Major- 
general  Wemys  and  Brigadier-general  Meyrick,  who 
overtook  them  between  the  town  of  Ardee  and  the 
Boyne;  bi.£  the  infantry  and  artillery  coming  up,  they 
were  defeated  with  some  loss,  and  fled  into  an  adjoining 
bog,  where  they  were  secure  from  pursuit.  In  the  night, 
a  small  party  set  off  toward  Ardee,  and  dispersed,  each 
as  he  best  could,  making  way  by  devious  and  circuitous 
routes  homeward.  The  remaining  body  repassed  the 
Boyne,  and  with  their  usual  celerity,  were  on  the  direct 
mad  toward  Dublin,  when  intercepted  by  Captain  Gor- 
don, of  the  Dumfries  light  dragoons,  at  the  head  of  a 
strong  party  of  horse  and  loot,  at  Ballyboghiil,  near 
Swords,  where  they  were  finally  put  to  the  rout,  and 
were  never  more  collected. 

Some  Wexford  insurgents,  however,  remained  with 
Mr.  Fitzgerald,  along  with  Mr.  Aylmer,  who  as  outstand- 
ing chiefs  negociated  witli  General  Dundas,  to  whom 
they  surrendered  on  the  12th  of  July,  on  condition  that 
all  the  other  leaders  who  had  adventured  with  them, 
should  be  at  liberty  to  retire  whither  they  pleased  out 
of  the  British  dominions.  The  same  terms  were  after- 
wards secured  by  General  Moore  to  Mr.  Garret  Byrne, 
who  was  sent  into  confinement  in  the  castle  of  Dublin, 
together  with  Messrs.  Fitzgerald  and  Aylmer.  Here 
they  continued  until  the  beginning  of  1799,  when  Lord 
Cornwallis  permitted  them  to  retire'to  England,  where 
they  remained  until  the  25th  of  March  following,  when 
Messrs.  Fitzgerald  and  Byrne  were  arrested  at  Bristol 
(where  they  were  for  the  recovery  of  their  health,)  at 


ISIS3  REBELLIONS 


the  instance  of  persons  connected  with  a  strong  Irish 
party  for  the  union,  whom  it  was  thought  at  that  time 
advisable  to  indulge.  These  gentlemen  arterwards  retired 
to  Hamburgh. 

Messrs.  Aylmer,  Fitzgerald,  and  c'.her  outstanding 
chiefs  surrendered,  conditioning  for  themselves  and 
others,  by  which  they  fared  much  bcttpr  than  those  who 
laid  down  their  arras  in  Wexford,  depending  on  the 
faithful  fulfilment  of  the  terms  entered  into  with  Lor  - 
Kingsboroiul;. 

Gen-ral  Lake,  previous  to  his  departure  from  Wexford, 
api*>iriteri  a  committee  to  suuerintend  prosecutions,  wo*1, 
to  grant  passes  to  leave  the  country,  consisting  of  the 
principal  gentlemen  then  resident  there.  The  appropriate 
duty  of  this  body  was,  to  inquire  specially  into  the  cases 
of  mch  prisoners  as  they  should  hand  over  to  be  tried 
by  court-martial,  to  procure  the  evidence  for  prosecution, 
and  to  commit  different  persons  to  gaol.  It  was  not, 
however,  deemed  necessary  to  send  a  committal  to  the 
gaoler,  as  the  word  of  any  of  them  was  considered  suffi- 
cient for  the  detention  of  any  of  those  given  in  custody  ; 
and  they  were  also  to  act  as  a  kind  of  council  to  General 
Hunter,  whose  benevolent  disposition  they  thwarted  on 
several  occasions  ;  and  this  was  so  well  known,  that 
many  upon  being  put  inro  confinement,  were  induced  by 
their  apprehensions  to  petition  for  transportation,  rather 
than  abide  a  trial  under  their  direction.  The  tyrannical, 
unjust,  and  inhuman  disposition  of  this  body  is  strongly 
exemplified  in  their  unwarrantable  treatment  of  many 
besides  myself,  which  I  have  endeavoured  to  detail  in 
my  preliminary  discourse. 

Different  court-martials  were  instituted  in  Ross,  Er- 
niscorthy,  Gorey,  and  Newtownbarry,  and  several  per- 
sons were  condemned  and  executed,  and  others  were 
sentenced  to  transportation.  Among  those  who  were 
condemned  to  be  executed,  I  cannot  avoid  noticing  the 
case  of  the  Rev.  John  Redmond,  a  Catholic  priest,  who 
it  seems,  during  the  insurrection,  had  done  all  in  his 
power  to  save  the  house  of  Lord  Mouotnorris  from  being 
plundered,  which  he  in  some  degree  effected,  but  not  at 
nil  to  the  extent  of  his  wishes.  Lord  Mountnorris,  how 
ever,  to  prevent  ttv?  possibility  of  his  being  supposed  by 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


any  one  in  future  a  friend  to  Catholics,  sent  for  Mi 
Redmond,  upon  finding  that  he  was  present  at  the  plun 
dering  of  his  house,  desiring  that  he  would  come  to  hin? 
directly.  The  reverend  gentleman,  conscious  of  his  own 
integrity,  and  apprehensive  of  no  danger,  as  involved  in 
no  gu>lt,  obeyed  the  summons  without  hesitation  ;  but  his 
instantaneous,  hasty  trial,  condemnation,  and  execution 
were  the  reward  of  his  humane  and  generous  exertions. 
His  body,  after  death,  underwent  the  most  indecent  mu- 
tilations. But  to  put  this  innocent  man's  conduct  Li  its 
proper  point  of  view.  I  do  not  think  I  can  do  better  than 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Gordon,  a  Protestant  clergyman,  has  done 
in  his  history  of  the  Irish  rebellion. 

'*  Of  the  rebellious  conduct  of  Redmond,  coadjutor  to 
Father  Francis  Kavanagh,  in  the  Parish  of  Clough,  of 
which  I  was  twenty-three  years  curate,  I  can  find  no 
other  proof  than  the  sentence  of  the  court-martial  which 
consigned  him  to  death.  He  was  accused  by  the  Earl  of 
Mountnorris  of  having  appeared  as  chief  among  a  party 
of  rebels  who  committed  some  depredations  at  his  lord- 
ship's house,  while  he  alleged  that  his  object  in  appear, 
ing  on  the  occasion  was,  to  endeavour  to  prevent  the 
plundering  of  the  house,  in  which  he  had  partly  suc- 
ceeded. Coming  into  Gorey  on  a  message  from  the  earl, 
seemingly  unapprehensive  of  dang'  r  and  unconscious  of 
guilt,  he  was  treated  as  if  manifestly  guilty  Defore  trial 
— knocked  down  in  the  street,  and  rudely  dragged  by 
some  yeomen.  I  mean  not  to  arraign  the  justice  of  the 
noble  lord,  his  prosecutor,  nor  the  members  of  the  court- 
martial.  The  former,  who  had  rendered  himself  in  no 
small  degree  responsible  for  the  loyalty  of  the  Wexfordian 
Romanists,  had  doubtless  good  reasons  for  his  conduct ; 
and  the  latter  could  have  no  personal  animosity  against 
the  accused,  nor  other  unfavourable  bias  than  what  na- 
turally arose  from  the  turbid  state  of  affairs,  when  accu- 
sation against  a  Komish  priest  was  considered  as  a  strong 
presumption  of  guilt.  But  his  Protestant  neighbours 
who  had  not  been  able  to  escape  from  the  rebels,  assured 
me  that  while  the  latter  were  in  possession  of  the  coun- 
try/ he  was  constantly  hiding  in  Protestant  houses  from 
the  rebels,  and  that  many  Romanists  expressed  great  re- 
sentment against  him  as  a  traitor  to  their  cause.    That  ho 


IRI3H  REBELLION. 


223 


expected  not  the  rebellion  to  be  successful,  appears  from 
this,  that  when  the  wife  of  Nathaniel  Stedman  (one  of 
my  Protestant  parishioners)  applied  to  him  to  baptize  her 
child,  he  told  her  that  he  acceded  to  her  request,  merely 
left  the  child  should  die  unbaptized,  in  the  necessary  ab- 
sence of  her  minister,  on  condition  that  she  should  pro- 
mise to  make  the  proper  apology  for  him  to  me,  on  my 
return  to  the  parish." 

It  is  a,.melancholy  reflection  to  think  how  many  inno* 
cent  persons  were  condemned.  I  have  heard  of  numbers, 
of  whose  innocence  the  smallest  doubt  cannot  be  enter- 
tained, whose  conduct  merited  reward  instead  of  punish- 
ment; yet  they  fell  victims  to  the  purest  sentiments  of 
philanthropy,  which  dictated  their  inference  :  these  have 
been  perverted  by  their  enemies,  who  are  also  those  of 
the  human  race,  into  crimes  utterly  unpardonable.  Ia 
this  anything  less  than  arraigni-  g  benevolence  and  hu- 
manity, the  most  amiable  qualities  of  the  soul  of  man,  as 
criminal  and  atrocious  ?  But  every  man's  breast,  what- 
ever be  his  principles,  will  tell  him  with  irresistible  force 
that  crime  and  atrocity  lie  at  the  other  side.  From  per- 
sonal knowledge  of  the  circumstances,  1  knew  five  or 
six.  who  were  innocent  of  the  charges  and  of  the  deeds 
sworn  against  them,  and  who  still  were  condemned  and 
executed.  In  these  turbid  and  distracted  times,  I  have 
seen  persons  sunk  so  much  below  the  level  of  human 
nature,  that  i  do  believe  they  were  not  capable  of  judg- 
ment or  recol  ection  ;  which  accounts  tome  in  some  de- 
gree for  the  various  assertions,  even  testimonies  on  trials, 
and  affidavits  made  by  different  persons  who  mi^ht  as 
well  relate  tlieir  dreams  as  facts.  The  dreadful  preju- 
dice, hateful  as  uncharitable,  entertained  against  Catho- 
lics, has  also  occasioned  the  death  of  many  ;  and  the 
general  excuse  and  impunity  of  Protestants,  who  joined 
in  the  insurrecti  m,  has  induced  many  to  avail  themselves 
of  tins  favourable  circumstance  to  change  with  the 
times  ;  and  to  testify  their  loyalty  they  accuse  the  very 
persons  they  themselves  s- educed  to  join  the  association 
of  united  irishmen,  and  thus  cut  off  all  the  existing  proof 
of  their  own  delinquency  by  a  consummation  of  villany. 
The  loyaliziny  spirit,  if  I  may  be  allowed  the  expression, 
has  done  a  vast  deal  of  mischief  for      se  in  the  predi- 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


fcament  last  mentioned  are  unprincipled  turn-coats  in  re- 
ligion, who  scruple  not  to  throw  out  every  calumnious 
aspersion  upon  that  which  they  had  not  only  forsaken 
but  abandoned,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  impress  an  idea 
of  the  sincerity  of  their  conversion  in  embracing  the 
other.  Vain  effort—It  only  exposes  the  hypocritical 
apostacy  in  either  case  to  the  dignified  contempt  of 
every  intelligent  and  principled  man.  I  know  two  Pro- 
les tarn  gentlemen,  who,  if  they  had  been  Catholics, 
would  not  have  escaped  at  this  critical  time.  They 
also  attribute  the  saving  of  their  lives  to  gambling,  01 
the  good  effects  of  w  hich  I  never  before  heard  an  instance. 
However,  certain  it  is  thart  these  gentlemen  had  lost  some 
money  at  play  previous  to  the  insurrection,  which  luckily 
for  them  had  not  been  paid  at  that  period;  and  the  gal- 
lant heroes  who  were  the  honourable* creditors  on  the 
occasion,  and  who  were  eminently  active  in  suppressing 
the  rebellion,  humanely  considered  that  none  of  the  debt, 
could  be  recovered  if  the  two  gentlemen  were  hanged, 
and,  therefore,  they  suffered  their  interest  to  work  upon 
their  mercy,  which  operated  to  the  procurement  of  par. 
don  and  release  for  the  gentlemen  in  question,  as  well  as 
the  consequent  payment  of  thesedebtsof  honour.  Iknow 
the  two  gentlemen  well,  and  have  often  heard  them  re- 
late this  adventure,  which  is  deemed  to  have  preserved 
two  fine  fe  lows. 

Mr.  E.  Kyan,  whose  courage  and  humanity  deserved  a 
better  fate,  was  taken  near  Wexford,  on  his  return  home 
in  the  night,  tried,  condemned,  and  executed  the  next 
day  ;  for  although  manifest  proofs  appeared  of  his  hu- 
manitv  and  interference,  so  conspicuously  effectual  on 
the  bridge  of  Wexford,  on  the  20th  of  June,  yet  this  was 
insufficient  to  save  him,  as  he  had  arms  about  him  when 
apprehended.  His  fate  is  the  more  lamentable,  as  Mr. 
Fitzgerald,  on  surrendering  to  General  Dundas.  had 
secured  the  same  terms  for  Sir.  Kyan  as  for  himself;  so 
that  had  any  circumstance  interfered  to  delay  his  execu- 
tion for  some  time,  the  life  of  a  brave  man  would  have 
been  saved. 

General  Hunter  was  indefatigable  in  his  exertions  to 
appease  the  minds  of  the  people,  and  to  restore  confidence 
and  tranquillity  to  this  distracted  country.    In  this  ho 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


225 


was  very  materially  assisted  by  the  address  and  exertions 
of  Captain  Fitzgerald,  who  by  the  special  appointment 
of  the  British  government,  was  attached  as  a  proper 
person  to  attend  the  general  as  brigade-major  on  the 
service  in  Ireland :  and  to  this  station,  besides  his  ac- 
knowledged  military  talents,  a  recent  display  of  courage 
independent  of  his  knowledge  of  the  country,  certainly 
recommended  him.  He  was  even  invested  with  the 
extraordinary  privilege  of  recommending  such  as  he 
thought  deserving  of  the  protection  and  mercy  of  go- 
vernment. 

Some  principal  gentlemen  of  the  county  and  others 
besides  attempted  to  "interpose  their  authority  to  super- 
sede the  tenor  of  the  general  pardon  held  out  by  procla- 
mation, pursuing  the  same  line  of  arbitrary  conduct  which 
they  practised  previous  to  the  insurrection.  'They  even 
proceeded  to  such  a  length  as  presuming  to  tear  some  of 
the  protections  which  the  country-people  had  obtained  • 
but  this  coming  to  the  general's  knowledge,  he  soon  quieted 
them  by  threatening  to  have  them  tied  to  a  cart's  tail  and 
whipped.  Others  had  been  rash  enough  to  levy  arbi- 
trary contributions  for  the  losses  they  had  sustained 
during  the  insurrection  ;*but  were  glad"upon  discovery, 
and  refunding  what  they  had  received,  to  escape  punish- 
ment, which  favour  was  generally  obtained  through  th<? 
intercession  of  Major  Fitzgerald.  Even  a  beneficed 
clergyman  of  the  Established  Church  partook  of  \he  ge- 
neral's indulgence.  Another  who  was  but  a  curate  was 
induced  to  wait  on  the  general  with  an  account  of  the 
intended  massacre  of  the  Protestants,  which  he  detailed 
with  appearance  of  the  utmost  alarm,  and  was  patiently 
heard  out,  with  the  greatest  complacency  by  the  gene- 
ral ;  who  when  the  curate  had  ended,  addressed  him  with 
this  marked  appellation  and  strong  language: — "3fr. 
Massacre,  if  you  do  not  prove  to  me  the  circu»mstanie3 
you  have  related,  I  shall  get  you  punished  in  the  most 
exemplary  maimer,  for  raising  false  alarms,  which  have 
already  proved  so  destructive  to  this  unfortunate  coun- 
try." The  curate's  alarm  now  from  general  became  per- 
personal,  and  on  allowing  that  his  fears  had  been  excited 
by  vague  report  to  make  his  representation,  his  piteous 
application,  and  apparently  hearty  contrition,  procured 


226 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


him  forgiveness.  Many  and  various  were  the  repress 
tations  of  a  similar  tendency,  made  to  General  Hunter, 
which  other  commanders  were  led  to  believe,  but  which 
his  superior  discrimination  deemed  false  and  groundless, 
and  were  discovered  so  to  be  in  several  instances,  by  the 
activity  and  acumen  of  his  brigade-major. 

Annesley  Brownrigg,  Esq.  a  magistrate  of  the  county 
of  Wexford,  received  nine-and-thirty-eharges  of  pillage 
and  slaughter  against  Mr.  Hunter  Gowan ;  and  on  the 
informations  being  submitted  to  General  Hunter,  he  sent 
out  a  party  of  the  Mid-Lothian  cavalry  to  conduct  him 
prisoner  to  Wexford,  whither  he  was  brought  according 
ly,  and  there  it  was  determined  to  bring  him  to  trial. 
Mr.  Brownrigg  returned  home,  in  the  meantime,  to  col- 
lect the  evidence  but  it  was  previously  settled  that  he 
should  have  sufficient  notice ;  but  on  the  day  appointed 
for  the  trial,  no  prosecutor  attending,  Mr.  Gowan  of 
course  was  discharged.  An  official  letter  had  been  dis- 
patched in  due  time,  yet  he  did  not  receive  it  until  it  was 
a  day  too  late.  Whether  the  miscarriage  of  the  letter  was 
by  accident  or  design,  continues  yet  a  secret. 

The  various  outrages  that  were  committed  in  the  coun- 
try, prevented  vast  numbers  from  coming  into  the  quar- 
ters of  the  several  commaning  officers  to  obtain  protec- 
tions, as  many  of  the  yeomen  and  their  supplementaries 
continued  the  system  of  deflagration  and  shooting  such 
of  the  peasantry  as  they  met ;  and  this  necessarily  de- 
terred many  from  exposing  themselves  to  their  view,  and 
prevented  of  course  the  humane  and  benevolent  inten- 
tions of  General  Hunter  from  having  due  weight  or  ex- 
tensive effect.  The  melancholy  consequences  of  such  a 
system  of  terror,  persecution,  and  alarm,  were  very  near 
being  wofully  experienced  in  a  shocking  instance  of 
dreadful  severity — the  extermination  of  all  the  inhabitants 
of  a  large  tract  of  the  county  of  Wexford.  This  was  ac- 
tually determined  on,  and  the  execution  of  it  already 
planned  and  concerted,  when  its  horrid  perpetration  was 
providentially  prevented  by  the  timely  and  happy  inter- 
vention of  Brigade-major  Fitzgerald,  under  the  direction 
and  orders  of  General  Hunter.  Incessant  applications 
and  remonstrances  were  made  by  different  magistrates  in 
Gorey  and  its  vicinity  to  government,  complaining  that 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


an  entire  quarter  of  the  county  of  Wexford,  extending 
from  Courtown  to  Blackwater,  which  range  of  country 
is  denominated  the  Macomores,  was  infested  with  con- 
Btant  meetings  of  rebels  ;  and  no  means  were  left  untried 
to  prevent  travellers  from  proceeding  to  Wexford  in  that 
direction  without  escorts ;  and  many  persons  whose  ha- 
bitations lay  in  the  neighbourhood  of  this  district  left 
their  homes  deserted,  from  a  belief  that  another  rising 
«•(  the  people  was  inevitable;  and  it  was  daily  expected 
t  ?  take  place  ;  nay,  the  reports  laid  before  government 
*ere  even  confirmed  by  affidavits;  and  so  generally  was 
it  believed,  that  persons  resident  within  two  miles  of  the 
confines  presumed  not  to  inquire  into  the  veracity  of  the 
reports,  to  which,  however,  they  gave  implicit  credit ; 
while,  at  the  same  time  they  were  accredited  by  govern- 
ment, to  whom  they  were  handed  in  under  the  specious, 
imposing,  and  solemn  appearance  of  facts  by  a  magistracy 
that  should  be  deliberate,  grave,  and  respectable ;  and 
the  noble  viceroy  who  then  held  the  helm  of  the  govern- 
ment was  rendered  justly  indignant  by  these  reiterated 
complaints  of  the  abuse  of  his  clemency,  on  the  repre- 
sented imminent  danger  of  the  country.  Orders  were 
accordingly  sent  to  the  different  generals  and  other  com- 
manding officers  in  and  contiguous  to  the  devoted  tract, 
to  form  a  line  along  its  extent  on  the  western  border, 
and  at  both  ends,  north  and  south,  on  the  land  side,  so 
as  to  leave  no  resource  to  the  wretched  inhabitants 
throughout  its  whole  range,  but  to  be  slaughtered  by  the 
soldiery,  or  to  be  driven  into  the  sea,  as  it  is  bounded  by 
the  channel  on  the  eastward.  Even  women  and  children 
were  to  be  included  in  this  horrid  plan  of  terrific  exam- 
ple. The  chief  command  in  execution  of  this  measure, 
the  time  for  its  commencement,  and  the  final  determina- 
tion of  its  necessity  were  entrusted  to  the  discretion  of 
General  Hunter,  nor  was  the  confidence,  indeed,  mis- 
I>laced#»  He  was  himself,  with  the  second  or  queen's* 
and  the  twenty-ninth  regiments  of  infantry,  together 
with  the  Mid-Lothian  fencible  cavalry,  stationed  in  Wex- 
ford ;  Brigadier-general  Grose  was  with  the  South  Cork 
militia  at  Enniscorthy ;  Lord  Blaney  commanded  the 
camp  at  Ferns,  composed  of  the  light  brigades :  Briga- 
•iier-general  Skerret  with  his  regiment  of  foot  in  Gorey 


228 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


and  General  Eustace  with  his  brigade  at  Arklow.  These 
together  with  the  general  assistance  of  all  the  yeomanry 
corps  throughout  the  country,  were  to  form  the  cordon 
round  the  country  of  the  Macomores,  and  the  troops  were 
to  move  at  once  to  the  dreadful  expedition.  So  terrify- 
ing were  the  reports  at  this  crisis,  that  even  some  liberal 
but  timid  and  credulous  minds  approved  of  these  melan- 
choly means  of  sacrificing  thousands,  (that  tract  being 
very  populous)  as  the  only  effectual  resource  for  restor- 
ing tranquillity ! 

General  Hunter,  through  the  honest  exertions  and 
bold  scrutiny  of  Major  Fitzgerald,  fortunately  discovered 
in  time  the  inhuman  tendency  of  the  misrepresentation 
that  had  dictated  and  determined  this  shocking  enter 
prise.    The  devoted  victims  found  access  to  the  general, 
and  he  cheerfully  acceded  to  their  entreaties  to  send  an 
officer  to  inquire  into  their  complaints,  imploring  pro- 
tection from  the  incursions  of  the  black  mob,  (they  thus 
lenominated  the  supplementaries  to  the  different  corps 
of  yeomanry,  who  wreaked  their  vengeance  even  upon 
those  wlio  had  reeeiveu  projections  from  General  Need 
ham  at  Gorey  ;  as  different  parties  of  the  soldiery  and 
yeomanry  waited  their  return  in  ambush,  and  slaught- 
ered every  one  they  could  overtake  1    This  naturally 
prevented  great  numbers  from  coming  in  for  protections 
Afterwards  these  sanguinary  banditti  made  incursions  into  . 
the  country,  fired  into  the  houses  of  the  peasantry,  and 
so  killed  and  wounded  many.    Several  houses  after  being 
Dlundered  were  burned,  and  the  booty  was  brought  into 
irorey.    By  the  frequency  of  these  horrible  excesses  and 
depredations  such  houses  as  remained  unburned  were  of 
course  crowded  with  several  families ;  and  this  multi- 
plied the  number  of  victims  at  each  succeeding  incursion. 
At  last  most  of  the  inhabitants  of  necessity  took  refuge 
on  the  hills,  and  armed  themselves  with  every  offensive 
weaoon  they  could  procure.    The  elevation  of  their  re- 
treats necessarily  made  their  assemblages  conspicuous, 
and  this  afforded  some  colour  to  the  pretext  for  desola- 
tion, as  it  appeared  a  specious  proof  that  a  general  rising 
was  intended  ;  and  this  was  most  strenuously  urged  by 
bose  who  seemed  bent  on  the  extermination  of  the  uo- 
t>rtunate  inhabitants  of  the  Macomores  territory  so  as 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


229 


to  "work  upoA  the  minds  of  some  well-disposed  but  timid 
persons  an  approval  of  the  dreadful  expedient.  General 
Hunter,  however,  having,  along  with  his  general  orders, 
a  discretionary  power  to  act  as  circumstances  might  re- 
quire, sent  Major  Fitzgerald  to  inspect  the  different 
military  corps  that  were  to  be  in  readiness  for  the  enter- 
prise, in  case  his  mission,  for  the  purpose  of  conciliation 
proved  unsuccessful ;  he  being  vested  with  full  powers 
to  undertake  that  task  of  benevolence  and  mercy.  Major 
Fitzgerald  accordingly  inspected  the  troops  at  Ennis- 
corthy  and  Oamolin,  and  from  the  latter  place  dispatched 
Surgeon  White  of  the  Camolin  cavalry  (son  of  Mr.  Henry 
White  of  Donoughmore,  a  gentleman  much  respected  in 
the  country  of  the  Macomores)  to  announce  his  intended 
visit  to  the  inhabitants.  The  major  then  proceeded  on 
his  inspection  to  Gorey,  and  here  had  great  difficulty  to 
procure  an  escort  to  accompany  him,  as  the  strongest 
fears  were  expressed  for  his  safety  should  he  enter  into 
such  a  desperate  quarter  as  it  was  represented ;  their 
dreadful  accounts  of  its  state  being  an  echo  of  the  repre- 
sentations that  had  been  made  to  government,  and 
transmitted  to  General  Hunter,  who  felt  good  reason  to 
doubt  their  authority.  However  the  major  was  not  to 
be  baffled,  imposed  upon,  or  disobeyed,  and  he  perceived 
evident  features  of  great  disappointment  exhibited  by 
those  who  would  fain  dissuade  him  from  his  purpose,  as 
they  were  conscious  that  the  object  of  his  mission  was 
not  according  to  their  wishes,  nay,  that  it  must  termi- 
nate directly  contrary  to  them.  The  escort  very  reluct- 
antly obeyed  their  orders,  and  on  being  dismissed  gal- 
loped full  speed  back  to  Gorey,  while  the  major  arrived 
in  perfect  safety  at  Donoughmore,  in  the  Macomores, 
where  he  slept  that  night.  On  the  next  morning,  Mr 
White  and  his  son,  who  were  beloved  by  the  people, 
accompanied  the  major  to  the  place  appointed  for  the 
meeting  of  the  people  ;  and  soon  after  their  arrival  there, 
some  yeomen,  arrayed  in  military  attire,  were  observed 
at  some  distance  by  the  crowd.  This  instantly  excited 
alarm,  and  a  rumour  was  circulated  that  their  extermi- 
nation was  determined  on,  and  that  they  were  led  to  this 
spot  to  be  surrounded  and  cut  off  while  the  major  was  to 
fcinuse  them  with  terms  and  harangue  !    It  is  provideu- 


230 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


tial  that  the  consternation  and  dismay  produced  by  this 
incident  did  not  operate  to  the  major's  destruction,  as  it 
would  have  afforded  the  abettors  of  extermination  every 
argument  to  fortify  their  representations ;  and  it  is  to 
be  hoped  that  the  appearance  of  this  military  body  was 
not  intended  for  this  purpose,  in  revenge  for  his  unequi- 
vocally declared  opinion  of  the  misconduct  of  some  of  the 
yeomanry.  The  major's  death  on  this  occasion  would  have 
put  an  end  to  all  accommodation  ;  and,  from  the  very 
violent  expressions  used  by  the  people,  on  thinking  them- 
selves  betrayed,  nothing  but  his  coolness  and  presence 
of  mind  could  have  preserved  him  in  so  critical  a  juncture. 
He  calmly  waited  for  silence,  and  then  offered  himself 
as  victim,  should  a  military  force  'of  any  consequence  be 
seen  to  approach  them,  as  his  inspection  the  day  before 
was  to  prevent  all  accidents  of  that  nature  ;  and  stated 
that  he  could  by  no  means  account  for  that  which  oc- 
curred, but  from  the  misconduct  of  some  of  the  yeomanry. 
This  address  instantly  produced  a  thorough  conviction 
of  his  indubitable  sincerity  and  benevolent  intentions, 
and  the  people  unanimously  surrendered  to  him,  and 
continued  to  flock  into  Wexford  for  several  days  after, 
to  give  up  their  arms  and  receive  protections.  Major 
Fitzgerald  considered  it  necessary  to  guard  the  road9 
with  patrols  of  cavalry,  to  prevent  the  people  from  being 
insulted  or  interrupted  in  their  return  to  their  avowed 
allegiance :  and  General  Hunter,  being  convinced  of  the 
expediency  of  protecting  the  harassed  peasantry  from 
the  violence  and  machinations  of  party,  ordered  Captain 
Cornock,  who  was  selected  as  an  experienced  officer,  to 
protect  the  inhabitants  of  Macomores  from  the  armed 
men  closely  adjoining  their  neighbourhood  ;  and  his 
corps  was  accordingly  marched  from  Enniscorthy  by 
Major  Fitzgerald,  together  with  a  party  of  the  Ennis- 
corthy cavalry,  under  Lieutenant  Sparrow,  although 
there  were  five  corps  of  yeomanry  stationed  in  and  near 
Gorey.  Of  these,  that  which  attracted  the  greatest  no- 
tice was  under  the  command  of  Mr.  Hunter  Gowan, 
which  it  was  found  impossible  to  restrain  from  pillage 
and  slaughter.  It  was  after  the  rebellion  was  suppressed 
that  this  body  received  appointments  as  a  cavalry  corps, 
and  as  several  of  them  were  not  owners  of  a  horse,  they 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


231 


took  a  speedy  mode  of  mounting  themselves  without  any 
expense.  They  scoured  the  country,  as  they  termed  it, 
and  brought  in  without  any  ceremony  the  horses  of  the 
wretched  cottagers.  On  a  day  of  inspection  by  Major 
Fitzgerald,  however,  the  poor  claimants  recovered  their 
horses,  and  the  motley  banditti,  as  the  major  termed 
them,  were  thus  transformed  into  dismounted  cavalry. 

The  false  alarmists  were  not  at  all  depressed  or  inti- 
midated at  these  discomfitures;  for  although  General 
Hunter  reported  the  country  as  in  a  perfect  state  of 
tranquillity,  they  again  returned  to  the  charge  and  re* 
newed  their  misrepresentations.  Mr.  Hawtrey  White, 
captain  of  the  Ballaghkeen  cavalry,  and  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  the  county,  sent  several  informations  to  go- 
vernment of  the  alarming  state  of  the  country  ;  and  the 
commanding  officer  at  Gorey  was  so  tar  persuaded  of  the 
intention  of  a  general  rising,  that  he  quitted  the  town, 
and  encamped  on  the  hill  above  it.  These  representa- 
tions made  under  the  semblance  of  loyalty,  and  by  a 
person  bearing  the  appearance  and  authority  of  a  gentle- 
man, had  not,  however,  the  wished-for  weight  with  the 
government.  General  Hunter  was  ordered  to  inquire 
into  the  information  of  Mr.  Hawtrey  White,  and  Major 
Fitzgerald  was  again  sent  out,  and  the  result  of  his  dis- 
criminating inquiry  was,  that  the  information  was  un- 
founded. Upon  this  the  general  ordered  Mr.  Hawtrey 
White  to  be  brought  to  Wexford,  and  he  was  accord- 
ingly conducted  thither  with  the  greatest  tenderness  and 
humanity  by  Major  Fitzgerald  ;  he  v*a*  then  put  under 
arrest  at  his  lodgings,  although  it  was  first  intended  t<j 
have  sent  him  to  gaol.  Mr.  White  still  persisted  in 
maintaining  that  there  was  an  encampment  of  the  rebels 
(though  not  so  numerous  as  he  had  previously  repre- 
sented it  to  be^  on  a  rock  of  great  extent  in  the  sea  two 
miles  from  the  land,  whither  the  rebels  retired  in  the  day 
time,  after  parading  through  the  country  at  night  ;  and 
he  expressed  a  wish  to  be  sent  with  a  party  by  land,  to 
intercept  them  in  their  progress  to  th«  shore.  General 
Hunter,  however,  did  not  agree  entirely  to  this  propo- 
sal, as  lie  was  apprehensive  that  the  people  of  the  country 
might  be  alarmed  at  the  appearance  of  Mr.  White  con- 
ducting a  military  force ;  and  that  they  would  be  induced 


232 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


to  fly  at  his  approach,  which  might  give  some  count© 
rtanee  to  the  information :  but  although  he  considered 
the  island  to  be  but  imaginary,  yet  in  order  that  truth 
should  prevail  over  falsehood,  he  ordered  a  gun-boat  to 
convey  Mr.  White  to  the  island  he  described,  and  that  a 
party  of  military  should  be  sent  -by  land  to  cut  off  the 
rebels,  when  he  should  drive  them  from  their  seagirt 
staiion.  In  the  meantime  the  captain  of  the  gun-boat 
had  orders  to  bring  back  Mr.  White,  to  receive  thanks 
lor  his  extraordinary  information,  should  it  prove  true ; 
and  to  concert  further  measures  for  defence  ;  but  if  found 
otherwise,  to  be  dealt  with  accordingly.  The  sea  and 
land  expedition  failed,  in  consequence  of  the  described 
rook  being  found  covered  by  the  sea  at  the  time,  and  of 
course,  if  any  rebels  had  been  there  they  must  have 
been  all  drowned,  when  this  new  Delos  inimerged  into 
the  deep  !  Mr.  Hawtrey  White  was  conducted  back  to 
Wexford,  and  General  Hunter  determined  to  bring  him 
to  a  court-martial.  Many  gentlemen  and  ladies,  how- 
ever, interfered  in  the  most  earnest  manner  to  prevent 
(his  investigation,  representing  that  Mr.  White's  great 
age  might  have  subjected  him  to  the  imposition  of  fabri- 
cated information  ;  and  the  firmness  of  the  general  re- 
laxed at  the  instance  of  so  many  respectable  persons  !  ! 
It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  this  inquiry  did  not  take 
place,  as  this  and  many  other  uncommon  occurrences  are 
variously  reported  and  believed,  in  different  shapes  and 
forms,  according  to  the  bias  or  inclination,  the  prejudice 
lt  the  disposition  of  the  narrators.  The  general  after- 
ward regretted  his  clemency,  as  he  was  not  sensible  at 
this  period  of  the  machinations  practised,  and  of  the  ex- 
tent of  party  prejudice,  the  evil  effects  of  which  every 
day's  experience  convinced  him  too  fatally  existed  in  the 
county  of  Wexford.  False  alarms  are  always  productive 
of  the  greatest  mischief,  and  are  deemed  in  all  countries 
offences  of  the  most  dangerous  tendency.  Ireland  has 
*  suffered  much  by  the  tales  of  adventurers  ii  these  in- 
fernal practices  :  but  I  am  glad  to  perceive  a  growing 
disposition  to  discountenance  these  pests  of  society,  who 
must,  if  continued  to  be  encouraged,  keep  all  well-dis- 
posed persons  in  a  constant  state  of  alarm,  and  screen 
the  malignant  intentions  of  their  original  projectors  from 
the  infamy  they  so  well  deserve. 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


A  conrt  .martial,  of  which  Lnrd  Ancram  eras  president, 
was  instituted  at  Wexford  for  the  trial  of  persons  accused 
of  treason  ;  and  contrary  to  the  expectation  and  wishes 
of  the  committee  for  procuring  evidence,  many  were  ac- 
quitted. Lord  Ancram,  however,  soon  left  the  town,  raid 
his  departure  was  much  regretted  by  the  people  ;  but  his 
lieutenant-colonel,  Sir  James  Fowlis  of  the  Mid-Lothian 
cavalry,  succeeded  him  as  president  of  the  court-martial. 
To  say  m  r  I y  that  he  acquitted  himself  with  honour  and 
integrity,  would  not  be  doing  adequate  justice*  to  liis 
merits.  I  believe  no  judge  ever  sat  on  a  bench  that 
displayed  more  judgment,  discrimination,  and  merer,  in 
selecting  the  innocent  and  misled,  from  the  criminal  and 
the  guilty  ;  and  this  conduct  inspired  so  much  confidence 
throughout  the  country,  as  to  induce  such  as  were  con- 
scious of  integrity  to  submit  to  trial,  which  they  would 
not  otherwise  dare  to  do,  from  a  well-founded  opinion  of 
the  rancour  of  their  accusers,  who  attempted  at  first  to 
warp,  and  afterwards  tocounteract  his  upright  intentions, 
which  those  who  experienced  them  alone  can  appreciate. 
Was  the  character  of  Irishmen  such,  as  too  many  have 
been  lei,  from  rn^representatiou,  to  believe,  would  such 
a  dignified  character  choose  Ireland  as  his  place  of  re- 
sidence ?  Does  it  not  rather  appe  ir  that  the  result  of 
immerou3  trials  not  only  convinced  him  for  the  instant 
but  even  left  a  lasting  impression  on  his  mind,  that  the 
people  of  Ireland  were  goaded  into  rebellion,  notwith- 
standing the  unnatural  calumnies  of  those  whose  preju 
dice  and  bigotry  urge  them  to  revile  their  country  !  !  | 

General  Hunter's  object  of  conciliation  was  so  evident, 
that  many  insurgent  leaders  were  induced  to  surrender 
tnemselves  to  him  on  obtaining  protections.  General 
Ldward  Roche  surrendered  oh  condition  of  transportation, 
and  Major  Fitzgerald  accordingly  brought  him  into  Wex- 
ford, where  he  was  lodged  in  the  gaol.  On  the  morning 
of  the  very  day  on  which  he  submitted,  a  rumour  had 
prevailed  of  the  landing  of  the  French  in  the  west  of 
ii eland,  and  although  Mr.  Roche  accredited  this  rumour, 
it  did  not  preveift  him  from  surrendering.  The  landing 
of  the  French  force,  under  Humbert,  was  officiaUy  trans- 
mitted to  General  Hunter,  and  he  was  ordered  off  wi*a 
the  queen's  and  twenty-ninth  regiments  of  infantry.  TLif 


234 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


sudden  and  unexpected  news  created  groat  aiarm,  and 
many  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  anxiously  desirous  to  quit 
the  country,  as  they  had  been  at  the  commencement  of 
the  insurrection,  and  were  actually  making  preparations 
to  that  effect.  The  county  of  Wexford  assuredly  felt  an 
impression  of  the  general  temper  of  Ireland  at  this  critical 
period.  The  inhabitants  of  the  territ  ory  of  the  Maco- 
mores,  however,  (though  led  to  believe  on  the  first  intelli- 
gence that  their  former  enemies  would  resume  their  plan 
of  desolation,)  were  impressed  with  the  fullest  conviction, 
that  they  were  rescued  from  extermination  by  the  inter 
ference  of  Brigade- major  Fitzgerald,  and  the  humane 
exertion  of  General  Hunter's  authority.  Under  this 
patronage  and  protection,  therefore,  they  wished  to  re- 
main, (not  knowing  that  the  general  had  been  ordered 
off,)  the  spontaneous  effect  of  their  feelings  on  the  occa- 
sion was  manifested  in  an  offer  of  their  services  to  march, 
against  the  French. 

( )n  the  departure  of  General  Hunter,  the  inhabitants 
of  this  county,  as  they  received  no  answer  to  their  me- 
morials, were  so  alarmed  that  they  sent  repeated  remon- 
strances to  Brigade-major  Fitzgerald,  requesting  his  inter- 
ference for  protection.  The  major,  therefore, now  thought 
it  necessary  to  consult  Sir  James  Fo  wlis,on  the  expediency 
of  going  into  the  Maco  mores,  and  Sir  James  esteemed  it 
of  6uch  material  consequence,  that  the  proposal  met  his 
most  hearty  approbation.  The  major,  however,  wa3  de- 
tained by  his  official  situation  for  some  days  in  Wexford; 
and  during  this  time  he  received  repeated  messages 
informing  him  that  Holt  and  Hackett  had  come  from  th& 
county  of  Wicklow,  and  were  tampering  with  the  people, 
and  using  every  means  iu  their  power  to  induce  them  to 
proceed  with  them  to  attack  Dublin,  which  they  repre- 
sented at  the  time  as  destitute  of  regular  troops,  as  Lord 
Cornwallis  had  led  them  all  off  to  meet  the  French. 
From  the  general  uncertainty  of  the  public  mind  at  this 
momentous  period,  with  respect  to  the  actual  strength  of 
the  invasion  ;  and  from  the  subsequent  accounts  of  the 
Buccess  of  the  French  on  the  first  onset,  it  may  be  very 
well  supposed  that  the  minds  of  a  people  so  lately  rescued 
from  concerted  extermination  must  be  strongly  affected, 
and  readytobe  influenced  by  the  solicitations  and  reaicn- 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


Frances  of  the  adventurers  who  came  among  them.  I 
tnereiore  required  the  utmost  address  and  energy  to  fix 
tneir  wavering  opinions,  and  Brigade-majx)r  Fitzgerald 
accordingly  set  out  from  Wexford  for  this  purpose,  and 
o.M  tne  way  he  met  different  groups  assembled  in  anxious 
uncertainty  what  to  determine.  These,  however,  on 
being  assured  by  the  major  that  neither  he  nor  Sir  Jamea 
Vuwlis  were  to  quit  Wexford,  under  whom  the  people 
were  sure  of  protection,  all  their  fears  and  apprehensions 
were  calmed.  The  major  represented  that  if  they  left 
the  country,  their  wives  and  families  who  so  lately  escaped 
extermination,  would  be  left  destitute  and  defenceless  at 
the  mercy  of  their  enemies,  who  would  not  fail  to  take 
advantage  of  their  absence  as  a  pretext  for  their  destruc- 
tion, and  this  argument  prevailed.  Though  many  and 
various  were  the  opinions  Major  Fitzgerald  had  to  encoun- 
ter, yet  he  pursued  his  intended  course  and  arrived  that 
night  at  Lkmoughmore,  and  here  he  was  further  convinced 
of  the  representation  of  the  people.  He  heard  the  signals 
of  movement  made  by  Holt  and  Hackett;  but  the  people 
remained  quietly  at  home,  and  suffered  these  adventurers 
to  depart,  accompanied  only  by  those  whom  they  origi- 
nally brought  along  with  them  ;  and  the  intended  attack 
upon  Dublin  was  given  up  in  consequence  of  the 
Wexford-men  not  joining,  for  much  reliance  was  had 
on  their  exertions  from  the  courage  and  intrepidity 
which  they  displayed  in  the  course  of  the  itvsurection.* 

These  incontrovertible  facts  give  the  lie  so  palpably  to 
the  calumniators  of  Ireland,  that  I  cannot  help  adducing 
the  testimony  of  an  English  lawyer  of  eminence  nearly 
two  centuries  ago,  but  very  applicable  to  our  own  time, 
of  the  character  which  the  Irish  have  ever  maintained. 
In  16*20,  Sir  John  Davies,  then  attorney-general  in  Ire- 
land, published  a  work  on  44  The  state  of  Ireland,"  in 
which  he  strongly  asserts  as  follows; — 4 4  They  will  gladly 

•'Dublin,  December  14,  1802. 
*  11  Sir— I  return,  with  my  thanks  for  your  polite  attention,  your 
manuscripts  you  were  so  kind  as  to  leave  for  my  perusal.  Am  exceed 
ingly  glad  to  find  through  the  whole  of  your  compilation,  so  strict  an 
observance  of  facts,  which  chiefly  come  under  ray  cognizance  af 
brigade-major.  It  is  with  pleasure  I  observe  also,  your  adherence  tfl 
truth  and  imnartiality — free  from  the  rancorous  spirit  of  party-fabri 


as 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


continue  in  the  condition  of  subjects  without  defection 
or  adhering  to  any  other  lord  or  king  as  long  as  they 
inay  be  protected  and  justly  governed,  without  oppres- 
sion on  the  oue  side,  or  impunity  on  the  other;  fo* 
there  is  no  nation  under  the  sun  that  dotb  love  equal 
and  indifferent  justice  better  than  the  Irish,  or  will  rest 
better  satisfied  with  «he  execution  thereof,  although  it  be 
against  themselves,  so  as  they  may  have  the  benefit 
and  protection  of  the  law,  when  upon  just  cause  they  do 
desire  it."  And  again  he  says  what  is  very  applicable  to 
the  unfortunate  situation  of  the  people,  *'  The  Irish  were 
out  of  the  protection  of  the  law,  so  that  any  Englishman 
might  oppress,  murder,  or  spoil  them  with  impunity." 

I  cannot  omit  here  mentioning  the  case  of  Mr.  Walter 
Devereux,  who,  having  obtained  protections  from  several 
general  officers,  had  gone  to  Cork  to  embark  for  Portugal; 
he  was  there  taken  up,  tried,  condemned,  and  executed. 
Mr.  Gibson,  a  yeoman,  and  wealthy  Protestant  shop- 
keeper, and  Mr.  William  Kearney,  an  extensive  brewer, 
were  summoned  and  attended  at  his  trial,  and  proved  that 
he  was  in  Wexford,  and  even  in  gaol,  at  the  very  time 
some  soldiers  of  the  Wexford  militia  were  shot  thirty 
miles  from  that  town  ;  and  the  principal  charge  against 
him  was,  that  he  gave  orders  and  was  present  at  their 
execution,  which  some  men  of  that  regiment  were  har- 
dened enough  to  swear! ! !  I  myself  saw  him  in  Wex- 
ford on  the  alleged  day.  He  was  also  accused  of  aiding 
and  abetting  the  abomination  at  Scullabogue,  and  this 
eharge  was  similarly  supported  by  the  testimony  of  some 
soldiers'  wives !  andy  et  it  is  an  undoubted  fact  that  he  was 
all  that  day  engaged  at  the  battle  of  Ross,  where  he 

cation,  which  is  the  true  criterion  that  exalts  the  historian  above  thf 
class  of  party  scribblers,  who  dissipate  as  rapidly  as  unerring  trutl 
unveils  itself,  strongly  exemplified  in  the  past  and  present  times.  1 
give  you  much  credit  in  not  retorting  as  you  might  for  your  unmerited 
Bufferings,  by  exposing  the  crimes  of  some  respectable  persons;  for, 
indeed,  if  they  are  not  very  forgetful  and  very  insensible,  the  com- 
punctions of  their  consciences  must  be  sufficiently  tormenting.  There 
is  little  doubt  of  your  labours  meeting  their  due  reward  from  an  un« 
praiadiced  public,  which  is  the  wish  of 

'*  Your  obedient  humble  servant, 

"B.  E.  FlTX6BBAU>. 

t:  To  Iliwaud  Hay,  Esq ,( 


JRISH  REBELLION. 


237 


displayed  the  most  hsroical  bravery  and  courage — quali- 
ties inconsistent  with  the  odious  crime  it  was  falsely  sworn 
he  had  perpetrated ! ! !  But  what  puts  the  falsehood  of 
the  facts  alleged  against  him  beyond  all  question  is,  that 
after  his  execution  another  Mr.  Devereux  was  taken  up 
on  the  discriminating  sagacity  of  the  same  witnesses  who 
prosecuted  the  former  to  death  ;  but  who  (now  as  they 
laid)  discovered  the  right  Devereux.  The  trial  of  the 
latter  has  been  published,  and  I  would  recommend  its 
perusal  to  such  as  wish  for  further  proof  of  the  miserable 
and  lamentable  condition  of  those  existing  in  the  county 
of  Wexford  during  the  insurrection.  The  following  case 
is  also  distinguished  for  its  peculiar  hardship : — After  the 
insurrection,  the  Rev.  James  Dixon  was  anxious  to  spend 
some  time  with  his  step-brother,  Mr.  Denis  Butler,  a 
merchant  in  Bristol,  w^ere  he  might  enjoy  that  peace 
and  tranquillity  which  the  distracted  state  of  his  native 
country  wholly  precluded.  His  intentions  were  well 
known  to  the  late  Colonel  Lehunte,  whe  lived  :n  tht 
vicinity  of  Castlebridge,  where  Mr.  Dixon  resided,  and 
had  therefore  the  best  possible  opportunity  of  being  ac- 
quainted with  his  unimpeachable  conduct  and  demeanour 
invited  him  to  accompany  his  lady  *nd  family  to  England, 
where  on  his  landing  he  was  recognised  by  some  oi 
the  incensed  Wexford  refugees,  who  immediately  de- 
nounced him  as  a  Catholic  priest.  By  this  outcry  (and 
the  prejudice  against  his  order)  those  on  the  beaoh  were 
roused  to  inflict  severe  treatment  on  him  ;  it  is  probable 
that  these  active  prejudices  might  have  proved  fatal,  had 
not  the  providential  interposition  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Draffen, 
the  "Protestant  clergyman  of  the  parish  where  the  Rer. 
Mr.  Dixon  officiated  as  a  Catnolic  priest,  interposed  in 
his  favour,  protected  and  covered  him  from  the  full  ex- 
ercise of  their  rage.  This  philanthropic  divine  was  as 
distinguished  for  his  loyalty  as  his  attachment  to  the  con- 
stitution of  his  country,  and  for  his  exemplary  piety 
and  abhorrence  of  rebellion.  This  act  o.  "nanliness  and 
goodness  on  the  part  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Draffen  cannot  be 
too  much  extolled,  and  whilst  it  manifests  the  purest 
sentiments  of  Christianity,  it  cannot  fail  to  impress  the 
strongest  conviction  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dixon's  innocence, 
%i:ieh,  along  with  other  representations  of  the  principal 


HISTORY  OF  TOE 

gentlemen  of  the  county,  laid  before  the  lord  lieutenant, 
jlid  not  prevent  his  tiansportation  to  Botany  Bay.  This 
innocent  clergyman  was  brought  back  from  Milford  a 
prisoner,  and  lodged  in  the  gaol  of  Waterford,  where  he 
was  tried  and  condemned  on  evidence  that  is  in  every 
degree  questionable ;  and  notwithstanding  the  strongest 
proofs  of  his  undoubted  innocence,  yet  prejudice  was 
too  triumphant  on  this  occasion  in  preventing  a  reversion 
of  his  sentence. 

The  county  of  Dublin  militia,  who  had  distinguished 
themselves  so  much  at  the  battle  of  Ross,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Major  Vesey,  whose  gallantry  on  that  day  after- 
ward procured  him  the  command  of  the  regiment,  were 
sent  to  Wexford ;  but  a  wound  which  the  colonel  re- 
ceived at  the  battle  of  Enniscorthy,  prevented  his  coming 
with  them, and  the  command  as  well  as  that  of  the  town, 
necessarily  devolved  upon  Lieutenant- colonel  Finlay.  On 
the  night  of  the  8th  of  September,  1798,  the  turnkey 
of  the  gaol  went  round  along  with  the  guard  (composed 
of  Ogle's  blues,  formerly  the  Shilmalier  infantry)  with 
general  notice  to  all  the  prisoners,  that  if  any  riot 
should  happen  that  night  in  any  part  the  county  of 
Wexford,  the  prisoners  were  all  to  be  shot  I  When  these 
orders  were  so  officially  notified  to  me,  I  desired  the 
turnkey  begone  about  his  business,  for  that  no  officer 
would  give  such  orders  ;  nor  could  I  be  persuaded  that 
the  orders  were  given,  until  the  serjeant  of  the  guard  of- 
fered to  save  me  from  the  massacre,  as  he  said  he  had 
heard  of  my  good  actions  during  the  rebellion.  I  could 
not  but  express  my  gratitude  for  such  an  offer  of  essential 
service ;  but  I  naturally  felt  great  anxiety  at  the  gloomy 
prospect  before  me,  of  which  no  doubt  could  now  be  en- 
tertained. The  gaoler,  whose  humanity  had  been  so  suc- 
cessful in  saving  Mr.  Bagnal  Harvey,  as  I  have  relatep 
on  a  former  occasion,  was  then  in  Dublin,  being  sum- 
moned before  parliament  to  prove  that  fact.  I  was  there- 
fore necessitated  to  write  to  Brigade-major  Fitzgerald  an 
account  of  the  transaction,  and  he  without  loss  of  time 
waited  on  Sir  James  Eowlis,  and  both  instantly  came 
down  to  the  gaol,  where  upon  inquiry,  they  found  my  re- 
presentation to  be  too  true :  but  they  took  measures  U 
counteract  the  execution  of  this  denunciation,  should 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


be  attempted.  The  commanding  officer  of  the  toirn  wm 
supposed  at  that  time  to  be  too  fast  asleep  (occasioned  by 
a  too  free  indulgence  of  the  bottle)  to  attend  to  any  re- 
monstrance on  the  occasion. 

The  departure  of  General  Hunter  from  Wexford  was 
an  irreparable  loss  to  the  county ;  but  his  presence  proved 
a  great  blessing  in  Kilkenny,  where  he  displayed  his 
usual  discrimination,  judgment,  and  humanity  in  deve- 
loping and  unravelling  the  proofs  of  the  melancholy  situ- 
ation of  the  persecuted  inhabitants,  who  were  conse- 
quently impressed  with  that  confidence  with  which  his 
noble  and  manly  conduct  never  failed  to  inspire  the  op- 
pressed. Although  his  absence  was  severely  felt  in  the 
county  of  Wexford,  yet  his  representation  of  its  state  to 
the  government  had  such  a  salutary  effect  as  to  prevent 
alarm  from  assuming  so  serious  or  formidable  an  aspect 
as  before.  Petty  depredators,  however,  still  continued 
their  usual  practices,  and  this  they  were  enabled  to  do 
with  the  greater  impunity,  as,  under  general  orders  and 
martial  law,  the  inhabitants  were  liable  to  be  shot,  and 
their  houses  burned,  if  discovered  out  at  night.  The 
regular  military,  with  the  yeomen  and  their  supplemen- 
taries,  were  the  only  persons  privileged  to  be  out  between 
sun-set  and  sun-rise ;  and  as  the  latter  description  of 
persons  now  received  military  pay,  they  were  rendered 
independent  of  industry  and  labour  (which  ever  and  anon 
depraves  the  minds  of  working  people,)  and  having  the 
enforcement  of  the  general  orders  entrusted  to  them,  de- 
predations and  excesses  were  committed  by  persons  un- 
known, untiJ  the  frequency  of  robbery  and  murder  urged 
the  necessity  of  furnishing  the  country  farmers,  at  the 
discretion  of  the  commanding  officers,  with  arms  for  the 
defence  of  their  families  and  properties.  Some  yeomen 
and  supplementaries  were  consequently  shot  in  attempt- 
ing houses,  and  this  plainly  discovered  who  were  the 
marauders.  Indeed  it  must  be  observed,  that  some  out- 
standing insurgents  were  sometime  after  taken  into  com- 
l>any  by  the  primary  robbers,  and  that  the  religious  and 
political  differences  of  both  parties  were  united  in  the 
consideration  of  mutual  assistance  in  robbery  and  rapine. 
This  multiplied  the  evil  tenfold ;  and  motley  gangs  of 
this  description  infested  several  parts  of  the  country  the 


S40 


BTS  TORY  OF  TBS 


■*-inUr  after  Ihe  ir  urrection.  This  evil  was  remedier!  in 
feome  degree  by  sending  out  parties  of  soldiers  from  the 
towns  into  different  parts  of  the  country,  to  be  there  sta- 
tioned, and  it  was  considered  an  indulgence  by  most  oi 
the  people,  that  a  soldier  was  permitted  to  quarter  upon 
them,  and  his  protection  was  purchased  by  every  kind  of 
Care  and  sedulous  attention.  It  merits  singular  obser- 
vation that  men  were  called  upon  to  deliver  up  the  iden- 
tical sum  they  had  collected  or  received  by  the  sale  of 
substance  at  fair,  market,  or  by  private  hand,  on  the 
day  previous  to  the  night  of  attac\;  and  although  num- 
bers could  give  information  against  the  perpetrators  of 
these  enormities,  yet  they  preferred  silence  of  their 
wrongs  to  the. risk  of  being  murdered.or  burned  in  their 
houses,  which  others  had  experienced,  and  with  which 
all  were  threatened  if  they  dare  to  inform. 

The  orange  system  now  became  very  prevalent  through- 
out the  county  of  Wexford,  and  was  strengthened  by  the 
accession  of  almost  every  Protestant  imit ;  this  general 
promotion  was  forwarded  by  a  received  prejudice,  that  no 
man  could  be  loyal,  who  was  not  an  orangeman.  Doctor 
J acob,  who  was  captain  of  a  yeomanry  corps  iu  W  exford, 
however,  did  not  deem  it  at  first  an  essential  of  loyalty 
to  become  an  orangeman  ;  but  he  was  afterward  induced 
to  alter  his  opinion,  by  a  resolution  entered  into  by  a  ma- 
jority of  his  corps,  that  they  would  resign  if  he  would  not 
Join  the  association.  Not  willing,  therefore,  to  possess 
the  mere  empty  title  of  captain  he  condescended  to  gra- 
tify their  wishes. 

It  has  net  yet  come  to  pass,  that  any  political  associa- 
tion has  invariably  adhered  to  the  principles  that  dictated 
their  original  formation  :  as  some  individuals  generally 
dictate  to  the  body  at  large,  and  raise  themselves  to 
consequence  by  the  support  of  their  adherents,  who  can- 
not recede  without  deviating  from  an  avowed  principle  of 
honour,  which  binds  them  together  ;  and  the  society  thus 
shoves  its  headers  into  consequence,  and  these  frequently 
when  they  find  another  opportunity  of  benefitting  them- 
selves, secede  and  make  way  for  new  adventurers  to  suc- 
ceed them,  and  the  same  routine  takes  place,  so  that  tho 
individuals  of  a  political  society  are  so  far  not  their  o**n 
masters,  but  are  led  or»  by  party  un  various  occasion!,  to 


IRISH  REBELLION. 


241 


give  public  sanction  to  what  they  inwardly  disapprove. 
I  however  know  valuable  and  estimable  characters  pos- 
sessing the  utmost  integrity,  members  of  political  socie- 
ties, and  whose  motives  and  conduct  are  unexceptiona- 
ble ;  and  although  I  approved  of  their  principles  and  ac- 
tions, yet  I  have  ever  and  always  avoided  entering  into 
any  political  society,  from  a  consideration,  that  I  might 
thereby  be  obliged  to  surrender  my  opinion  contrary  to 
my  inclination,  and  would  not,  therefore,  feel  myself 
thoroughly  independent.  From  a  review  of  the  many 
iind  various  political  societies  and  parties  in  this  unac- 
countable age,  I  nave  observed,  tha\  in  the  most  perilous 
times  well-disposed  persons,  unconnected  with  party, 
have  escaped,  where  others,  venturing  into  societies, 
have  been  cut  off,  for  no  other  reasor  but  their  associa- 
tion has  been  inimical  to  some  other  that  in  the  turn  of 
affairs  gained  an  ascendancy  ;  and  thus  has  one  political 
society  risen  on  the  destruction  of  another  ;  while  a  true 
lover  of  his  country,  individually  engaged  in  the  pursui 
of  whatever  is  for  its  advantage,  has  outlived  the  storm. 
Most  political  societies  avow  their  sentiments  publicly, 
with  a  view  of  obtaining  general  approbation  ;  my  infor- 
mation does  not,  however,  enable  me  to  give  a  sketch  of 
the  two  rival  societies  of  united  Irishmen  and  orangemen, 
whose  rivalry  has  been  productive  of  such  serious  conse- 
quences in  Ireland.  I  must  therefore  refer  my  readers 
to  the  memoir e  and  examination  of  Messrs.  O'Connor, 
Emmett,  and  M'Neven,  published  in  London  and  Dub- 
lin, since  the  rebellion,  as  the  most  authentic  account 
extant  of  the  rise,  progress,  and  ultimate  views  of  the 
former  society  ;  but  I  must  also  observe,  that  the  utmost 
extent  of  the  information  during  the  insurrection  in  the 
county  of  Wexford  was  the  oath  of  admission  and  secrecy  : 
and  with  respect  to  the  latter  society,  I  can  make  no  au- 
thentic reference  whatever. 

Orange  associations  became  at  length  so  general  and 
indiscriminate,  that  their  members  could  by  no  means  be 
considered  capable  of  constituting  a  select  assemblage, 
as  multitudes  of  them  were  of  the  lowest  and  most  unin. 
formed  vulgar,  and  of  course,  subject  to  the  weakest 
passions,  prejudices,  and  frailties  of  human  nature 
Many  of  them  certainly  did  no  honour  to  the  associa- 


2*2 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


tion  ;  but  it  must  be  also  said  of  united  Irishmen,  that 
individuals  of  them  contrary  to  the  avowed  principles 
of  union  and  brotherhood,  which  they  were  sworn  to 
preserve,  disgraced  themselves  by  acts  quite  opposite 
to  the  spirit  of  their  institution.  Freemasonry,  though 
very  generally  embraced  throughout  Ireland,  has  yet 
escaped  similar  imputation,  which  I  believe  is  owim? 
to  its  being  rather  a  social  and  moral  than  political  fra- 
ternity. 

I  have  conversed  with  many  gentlemen  who  avowed 
themselves  orangemen,  and  whose  conduct  and  principles 
I  have  every  reason  to  suppose  honourable  ;  yet,  I  have 
heard  them  declare,  that  they  would  by  no  means  gra- 
duate in  the  society,  but  remain  in  the  state  of  simple 
orangemen,  not  meaning  in  any  degree  to  compare  these 
honourable  men  to  the  orange  informers  in  Wexford  on 
the  20th  of  June,  1798,  who  said  they  had  not  taken  the 
purple  degree  of  the  order.  How  the  conduct  of  persons 
assuming  the  name  of  orangemen,  in  the  county  of  Wex- 
ford, may  be  viewed  by  the  association  at  large,  I  know 
not;  but  truth  imposes  on  me  the  task  of  relating  the 
melancholy  consequences  of  the  conduct  of  some  who 
avowed  themselves  orangemen.  After  the  insurrection 
in  the  county  of  Wexford  was  suppressed,  orangemen 
wore  ribands  and  medals  without  any  disguise  ;  aud  on 
the  death  of  an  or  mgeman,  the  general  decorations  of 
black  Were  laid  aside,  and  orange  substituted  at  their 
wakes  and  funerals.  After  the  interment,  houses  have 
been  burned,  alleged  to  be  in  retaliation  for  the  previous 
conduct  of  croppies  whose  houses  were  adjacent  to  the 
church-yard.  Not  unfrequently,  on  the  night  of  a  well- 
attended  funeral,  or,  after  a  rejoicing  day,  a  Catholic 
chapel  was  consumed,  and  the  frequency  of  these  con- 
flagrations manifests  the  most  rancorous  spirit  of  intol- 
erance and  inveterate  party  prejudice  !  !  !  What  makes 
these  transactions  more  lamentable  is,  that  not  a  single 
person  has  as  yet  been  punished  or  even  arrested  for  the 
perpetration  of  these  crimes.  Is  it  possible  this  could 
be  the  case  but  through  the  supineness  of  the  magis- 
tracy? How  could  the  repetition  and  impunity  of  such 
acts  be  otherwise  accounted  for,  but  from  their  not  doing 
their        ? — and  does  not  such  neglect  necessarily  im* 


IRISH  REBELLION". 


243 


piy  connivance  ?  Prom  my  knowledge  of  the  country,  I 
would  venture  to  stake  my  existence  that  I  would  dis- 
cover the  perpetrators,  had  I  the  assistance  of  an  Eng- 
lish or  S<vti.h  regiment  to  protect  those  who  could  give 
iniormatiou  from  the  merciless  fury  of  these  ineendia* 
ri^s-  and  it  is  much  to  the  disgrace  of  the  country  that 
tins  is  not  accomplished.  A  reward  of  one  hundred 
pounds  was  offered  for  the  discovery  of  those  that  had 
burned  Catholic  chapels  by  the  grand  jury  of  the  county 
01  Wexford,  at  the  summer  assizes  in  1799,  published  in 
eorne  Dublin  papers,  which  however  produced  no  infor- 
mation. 

Chapels  burned  in  the  county  of  Wexford  and  dwcess  of 
Ferns,  with  the  dates  of  their  respective  conflagrations. 

Boolevogue  .  May  27, 1798,  Ball egarret  Jan.  15, 1798 
Maglass  .  May  30,  1 798j  BallinamonabegJan  .15,1 799 
Kamsgrange  .  June  19,  1798:Askamore  .  Feb.  24, 1799 
Drumgold  .  June21,  1798  Murntown  .  Apr.  24, 1799 
Ballemurrin  .  June  do,  1798  Monamoling,  May  3,  1799 
Gorey  .  Aug.  24,  1798Kilrush  .  May  15, 1799 
Annacurragh  Sept.  2, 1798  Marshalstown  Ju.8or9,1799 
Crane  .  Sept.  17, 1798  Munfin        .  June  do,  1799 

Bock  .  Oct.  12, 1798  Crossabeg     .  June  24,  1799 

Balled uff  .  Oct.  10,  1 798  Killeneerin  .  J une  29  1 799 
Riverchapel  .Oct.  do,  1 798  MonageSr  .July  1,  1799 
Monaseed  .  Oct.  25, 1798Kiltayley  .  Oct.  1,  1799 
Clologue,  .  Oct.  26, 1798  Glanbryan  .  Mar.  13, 1799 
Killeveny     .  Nov.  11,  1798  Kaim  .  Sept.  3,  180C 

Ferns  .  Nov.  1 8, 1 798  Ballimackesey  Sept.      1 800 

Oulart  .  Nov.  28, 1798  CourtenacuddyAug.13,1801 
Castletown  .  Nov.  1798 

The  Protestant  church  of  Old  Ross  was  burned  on  the 
2d  of  June,  1798. 

These  and  many  other  shocking  deeds  could  not  have 
&een  constantly  reiterated  throughout  the  country,  were 
the  magistrates  willing  to  do  their  duty ;  and  it  is  asto- 
nishing that  the  country  gentlemen  could  so  far  forget 
their  own  real  interests,  which  are  superseded  by  the 
parrow  and  prejudiced  motions  with  which  they  are 


244 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


blindfolded.  It  will  scarcely  be  believed  that  such  ne- 
glect was  possible ;  and  the  gentlemen  themselves  will 
lament  it  hereafter,  when  they  come  to  their  sober  re- 
collection?, and  feel  the  melancholy  effects  of  religious 
prejudice,  in  the  inevitable  consequences  of  leaving  such 
acts  unpunished  ;  which,  although  they  did  not  actually 
commit  themselves,  yet  they  have  encouraged  them  by 
their  inactivity  and  negligence. 

It  is  to  be  observed  that  the  insurrection  was  com- 
pletely suppressed  in  the  county  of  Wexford  in  June, 
1798,  previous  to,  and  during  which  period,  five  Catholic 
chapels  appear  to  have  been  burnt,  and  the  remaining 
conflagrations  took  place  when  the  country  was  not  dis- 
turbed by  any  other  transactions  but  these  enormities, 
perpetrated  when  the  utmost  tranquillity  otherwise  pre- 
vailed. Various  depredations  and  excesses  were  also 
committed  through  the  country.  Murders  were  preva- 
lent, houses  were  burnt,  and  notices  were  posted  on  tho 
doors  of  many  Catholics,  desiring  them  to  quit  their  ha- 
bitations, of  a  similar  tendency  with  those  in  the  county 
of  Armagh  in  the  year  1795  The  notices  in  the  coun- 
ties of  Wexford  and  Wicklow,  prevalent  in  1798,  1799, 
and  1800,  were  conceived  pretty  nearly  in  the  following 

terms: — "A       H  ,  we  give  you  notice,  in  six  days 

to  quit ;  or  i  f  you  don't,  by  G — ,  we  will  visit  your  house 
with  fire,  and  yourself  with  lead.  We  are  the  grinders— 
Moll  Doyle's  true  grandsons.'* 

These  and  such  like  notices  were  posted  on  the  doors 
of  Catholics  in  the  night,  and  many  quitted  their  houses 
and  habitations  in  consequence  of  some  of  these  threats 
being  put  into  actual  execution.  I  shall  cite  an  example 
Cfef  these  dreadful  practices,  exemplified  in  the  case  of 
Mr  Swiny,  a  Protestant  gentleman,  who  resided  for  se- 
veral years  in  Yorkshire,  and  had  an  estate  called  Court, 
between  Oulart  and  Ballecanow,  which  was  tenanted  by 
many  Catholics,  whose  leases  expired  in  1799  ;  but  who, 
by  the  prevailing  system,  were  rendered  incapable  to 
retake  their  farms,  as  their  houses  M*ere  all  burnt,  and 
all  the  property  they  possessed  destroyed  ;  but  what 
manifested  this  business  quite  systematic  was,  that  no- 
tices were  posted  up  afterwards  through  the  country, 
purporting  that  no  papist  should  presume  to  take  ik* 


r 

IRISH  REBELLION. 

?  and  that,  if  even  a  son  of  Moll  Doyle  should  vfte* 
more  than  half-a-guinea  an  acre,  (worth  fifty  shillings,  i 
he  should  forfeit  all  privileges  of  the  fraternity,  ana  uw- 
iergo  the  same  punishment  for  his  transgression  as  if  he 
was  a  papist.    The  lands  of  Court  thus  prescribed,  re- 
mained waste  for  nearly  two  years !    Is  it  not  melan- 
choly to  reflect  that  this  and  many  such  manifest  out' 
rages,  but  more  prevalent  in  the  Macomores  than  any 
ether  part  of  the  county,  did  not  rouse  the  feelings  oJ 
landlords,  at  a  time  that  their  own  interests  were  so 
closely  connected  with  the  suppression  of  such  deeds  : 
And  yet  the  tribe  of  middlemen  seems  to  have  so  much 
influence,  as  to  be  able  still  to  keep  up  the  like  occur- 
rences,  in  the  hope  that  they  might  benefit  by  the  de- 
struction or  banishment  of  the  great  majority  of  the 
people.     Miserable  policy,  that  low  minds  alone,  de- 
based by  prejudice,  can  harbour !    These  cannot  be  sen- 
sible that  the  population  of  a  country  constitutes  its 
principaiad  vantage,  and  is  what  enables  them  to  raise 
themselves  on  a  foundation  of  which  they  meditate  the 
destruction,  and  thus  endanger  the  superstructure  which 
they  wish  to  enjoy ;  not  perceiving  that  it  must  totter, 
when  so  undermined,  and  involve  themselves  in  the 
general  ruin ! 

Courts-martial  continued  to  sit  in  Wexford  for  nearly 
three  years  after  the  insurrection,  although  the  regular 
assizes  and  general  gaol  delivery  were  resumed  in  the 
spring  of  1799.    Prisoners  confined  in  the  gaol  of  Wex. 
ford  were  parcelled  out  into  different  lots,  to  be  tried  by 
the  civil  and  military  tribunals,  according  to  the  discri- 
mination  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  county  !    Others  have 
been  arraigned  at  an  assizes,  and  on  showing  legal  cause, 
had  their  trials  put  off  to  the  next;  when  the  judge  b 
cailed  for  prisoners  not  produced,  although  returned 
the  crown-book,  then  it  has  been  discovered  that  the] 
had  been  handed  over  to  a  military  tribunal,  and  accord 
ing  to  their  sentences  had  been  transported  or  hanged 
With  the  utmost  respect  and  veneration,  I  look  up  t 
that  great  bulwark  of  the  constitution,  trial  by  jury 
and  shall  always  esteem  juries  less  liable  to  bias,  tha 
ary  other  mo  le  of  trial.    However,  it  so  came  to  pass  i 
t\e  county  of  Wexford,  from  various  occurrences  th.3 

246 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


took  place,  that  many  prisoners  preferred  to  be  tried  by 
a  military  rather  than  a  civil  tribunal,  which  the  conduc 
of  Sir  James  Fowlis  contributed  to  inculcate.  It  would, 
however,  be  great  injustice  not  to  mention  that  the 
udges  of  the  realm  who  presided  in  the  criminal  court 
in  Wexford  distinguished  themselves  by  their  benevolent 
humanity,  and  the  most  liberal  construction  of  the  am- 
nesty bill ;  and  whenever  rengious  prejudice  or  party 
spirit  broke  out,  they  were  not  backward  in  expressing 
their  dissatisfaction :  they  supported  their  just  judgment 
with  manly  dignity,  and  by  their  recommendations  res- 
cued some  from  execution,  on  whom  the  laws  of  the  land 
obliged  them  to  pronounce  sentence,  and  thus  were  ac- 
tuated by  the  god-like  virtues  of  justice  and  mercy.  I 
most  sincerely  hope  no  other  opportunity  may  ever  occur 
of  making  any  comparison  between  courts-martial  and 
trial  by  jury.  God  grant  that  juries  will  ever  hoid  in 
their  minds  the  true  spirit  of  impartiality,  and  then  we 
shall  ever  consider  them  as  the  true  basis  of  a  free  con-r 
stitution 

Another  kind  of  depredators  made  their  appearance  in 
the  county  of  Wexford  in  the  course  of  the  winter  of 
1 793  and  1799:  they  assembled  in  the  wood  of  Kilaugh- 
rim  between  Enniscorthy  and  Scollagh-gap,  and  were 
denominated  among  other  appellations  "  the  babes  o  f  the 
wood/'  Independent  of  some  outstanding  insurgents, 
deserters  from  different  regiments  associated  in  this 
band ;  and  they  levied  small  contributions  throughout 
the  country.  Those  immediately  in  their  vicinity  were 
to  supply  their  quota  in  provisions  ;  while  those  at  a  dis. 
tance  were  called  upon  for  money,  which  was  supplied 
in  general  without  opposition,  to  avoid  greater  violation  : 
as  they,  for  the  most  part,  behaved  civilly  if  freely 
given,  and  did  not  all  pursue  the  merciless  conduct  of 
the  depredators  already  noticed. 

Different  military  detachments  were  sent  out  from 
Ross  and  Enniscorthy,  and  these  endeavored  to  sur- 
round the  extensive  woods  of  Kilaughrim,  supposed  to 
contain  them,  but  their  efforts  proved  fruitless,  as  they 
never  could  come  up  with  the  babes  in  the  wood;  who 
generally  had  a  rendezvous  in  the  night,  and  dispersed 
towards  morning,  into  such  a  variety  of  lurking-places, 


IRISH  REBELLION 


217 


that  but  few  of  them  were  apprehended,  and  though 
several  plans  for  their  annihilation  were  contrived,  they 
all  proved  ineffectual.  The  activity  of  Brigade-major 
/itzgerald,  was  again  called  forward,  and  he  brought 
them  to  a  consent  of  surrender  ;  but,  however,  since  the 
recall  of  General  Hunter,  who  would  have  immediately 
put  a  final  stop  to  their  proceedings,  (his  absence  on  this 
occasion  was  productive  of  serious  evil,)  instead  of  the 
babes  of  the  wood  surrendering  on  condition  of  being  suf- 
fered to  enlist  in  the  army,  they  continued  their  pre- 
datory system,  during  which  they  were  occasionally 
yisited  by  Holt  and  Hackett,  and  some  of  their  associ- 
ates  ;  but  most  of  them  at  last  surrendered  to  Captain 
Robinson.of  the  South  Cork  militia.  Some  of  these  were 
sent  to  Prussia,  others  enlisted  into  different  regiments, 
and  some  were. executed  at  Newtownbarry.  A  few  who 
did  not  surrender,  not  thinking  it  prudent  to  continne 
in  their  old  haunts,. abandoned. the  county  of  Wexford, 
and  joined  the  uiarauders  in  the  county  of  Wicklow. 

Estimates  of  he  actual  damages  in  consequence  of  the 
conflagration  of  the  Catholic  chapels  were  made  out  by 
order  of  the  government  of  Ireland,  and  the  sums  so 
awarded  paid  out  of  the  treasury  for  rebuilding  them. 
Many  parsons  who  at  stated  times  had  received  certain 
proportions  of  their  losses  during  the  rebellion,  have 
bitterly  complained,  and  expressed  their  apprehensions 
that  the  rebuilding  of  the  Catholic  chapels  was  to  be  de- 
frayed out  of  the.  fund  for  the  relief  of  the  suffering 
loyalists.  This  scheme  of  supply  must  be  considered 
very  political,  had  it  the  effect  of  preventing  the  reitera- 
tion of  these  enormities,  which  many  consider  it  had. 
jovernment  has  thus  interposed  in  favour  of  public  Ca- 
tholtc  property.  I  therefore  cannot  conceive  it  is  in- 
tended to  exclude  Catholics  individually  ;  yet  it  is  almost 
exclusively  the  case  in  the  county  of  Wexford,  occasioned 
by  the  existing  deep-rooted  religious  prejudice  !  Was 
the  conduct  of  these  public  accustrs  to  undergo  the  same 
scrutiny  they  have  subjected  others  to,  they  would  not 
Appear  in  so  favourable  a  light  to  the  world  as  they  wish 
to  maintain.  Poor  claimants  have  been  constrained  to 
rrosecute  against  their  inclinations,  to  prove  their  loyally 
lufficieutly  not  to  exclude  them  from  payment !  I  thera 


248 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


fore  imagine  that  all  Catholics  against  whom  there  does 
ftot  exist  any  charge  but  general  prejudice,  ought  not  to 
be  debarred  of  this  privilege,  as  well  as  all  those  who  on 
trial  have  been  honourably  acquitted,  as  many  have 
withheld  their  just  claims  from  the  apprehension  of  the 
general  prejudice  entertained  against  Catholics.  The 
case  of  Mr.  Edmund  Stafford  is  peculiarly  apposite. 
This  gentleman  claimed  as  a  suffering  loyalist,  and  I  am 
confident  no  person  in  the  co.unty  was  more  deserving  of 
that  title ;  yet  for  daring  to  do  so,  he  was  accused  and 
arraigned  for  murder,  on  the  discriminating  sagacity  of 
evidence  that  had  been  the  cause  of  the  execution  of 
many,  but  whose  villainy  was  not  publicly  known,  until 
the  trial  of  Mr.  Stafford  could  not  be  put  off,  and  he  was 
discharged  without  trial,  after  a  confinement  of  several 
months,  for  presuming  to  enrol  his  name  among  the  suf- 
ering  loyalists. 

Although  the  conduct  of  the  militia  regiments,  it 
might  be  naturally  hoped,  was  such  as  to  defy  the  po&* 
sibility  of  any  reflection  on  their  behaviour;  yet  preju- 
dice operated  so  strongly  in  some  of  them,  that  the 
officers  behaved  in  so  partial  a  manner  as  to  induce  Ca- 
tholics particularly  to  offer  themselves  as  volunteers  to 
serve  in  different  regiments  of  the  line.  These  after- 
ward formed  a  considerable  part  of  the  army  sent  to 
Egypt.  Many,  who  were  doomed  to  transportation, 
were  also  sent  on  that  expedition.  Then  it  was  con- 
sidered a  fortunate  circumstance  that  these  were  sent 
out  of  Ireland  ;  not  from  any  idea,  however,  that  they 
would  have  been  the  means  of  redounding  to  the  fame  of 
the  British  army,  and  immortalizing  their  glory,  by  the 
courage  and  intrepidity  they  displayed  ;  that  must  for 
ever  silence  their  indiscriminate  calumniators.  I  wish 
those  who  have  been  in  the  habit  of  dealing  out  illibera 
opinions  respecting  Irish  Catholics,  may  keep  the  con- 
duct of  these  in  recollection,  as  it  may  induce  them  to 
join  in  praise  of  men  whom  they  ought  to  endeavour  to 
imitate.  They  might  thus  too  become  sensible  of  the 
inestimable  value,  to  any  country,  of  such  men,  as  with 
proper  encouragement,  would  be  invincible,  and  so  prove 
the  most  impenetrable  bulwark  and  consequent  support 
W  the  constitution ;  far  superior  to  any  thing  which  the 


IBISH  REBKLLIoN. 


249 


system  of  coercion  can  possibly  effect,  and  this  Irrefra- 
gable truth,  I  hope,  may  have  its  due  weight. 

At  the  summer  assizes  of  Wexford,  in  1801,  James 
Redmond  was  tried  and  condemned  for  the  murder  of 
the  Rev.  Robert  Burroughs,  a  Protestant  clergyman,  at 
Oulart,  on  Whitsunday,  the  27th  of  May,  1796  ;  and 
pursuant  to  his  sentence,  was  executed  on  the  30th  of 
July,  and  his  body  delivered  to  the  surgeons,  who,  a.^ter 
di~,  ecting  it,  permitted  it  to  be  taken  away,  a:td  it  was 
bmied.  The  corpse  was  dug  up  out  of  Us-grave,  and 
placed  in  the -shed  erected  for  the  pries  o  officiate,  on 
the  site  of  the  Catholic  chapei  of  hi  >  »an  eling,  which 
had  been  burned.  This  exhibition  wa-  nui  ciscovered 
till  the  congregation  had  assembled  to  hear  mass  on  the 
Sunday  following— the  3rd  of  August,  1S0L  Although 
this  man  was  guilty  of  murder,  yet  there  is  something 
so  vastly  shocking  in  disturbing  the  dead  iu  their 
graves,  and  repugnant  to  human  nature,  that  the  vilest 
A  plkemen  were  never  guilty  of  such  a  transaction  in  all 
their  uneontrollable  sway.  Independent  of  the  savage 
disposition  of  this  occurrence,  the  disregard  for  religion 
is  so  manifest,  that  it  is  the  more  lamentable,  as  it  keeps 
alive  those  prejudices  which  it  is  so  much  the  interest  of 
all  parties  to  suppress. 

The  ratification  of  the  treaty  of  peace  with  the  French 
republic  has  brought  back  many  who  were  distinguished 
in  fighting  for  their  country  in  the  army  and  navy  ;  and 
the.-e,  upon  their  return  home,  found  many  of  their  rela- 
tives destroyed  ;  and  on  being  informed  who  the  depre- 
dators were,  they  were  induced  to  accost  them  at  different 
fairs  and  patrons  throughout  the  country,  intimating 
that  they  had  proved  themselves  loyal  men  by  fighting 
the  enemits  of  their  country,  and  not  by  murdering  their 
neighbours  or  friends,  or  burn  ng  their  houses.'  These 
altercations  constantly  produced  fights,  and  the  result, 
though  it  has  disturbed  the  public  peace,  yet  has  cor- 
rected, in  some  degree,  the  overbearing  contempt  in 
which  some  high-spoken  gentry  held  the  generality  of  the 
people,  whom  they  now  condescend  to  respect  through 
the«e  their  relatives  ;  nay,  they  treat  with  more  reserve 
#ome  of  the  yery  insurgents  who  have  returned  from 
transportation,  after  having  obliterated  all  stain  of  li**' 


HISTOUY  of  the 


vious  political  delinquency  by  their  subsequent  exploits 
m  th«  service  of  their  country — and  thus  do  the  brave 
sver  awe  cowards  into  shame  and  submission  !  The 
rooted  aversion,  however,  which  has  been  by  various 
means  encouraged  and  inculcated  against  the  great  body 
of  the  people,  has  led  many  to  adopt  the  most  illiberal  ex- 
pressions ;  and  I  am  sorry  to  learn,  that  both  in  higti  and 
low  life  it  is  a  pre\  a'ent  notion  to  deplore  the  existence  of 
the  ;  rnnesty  bill,  as  it  precludes  the  accomplishment  of 
the  \  iews  of  exterminating  those  who  are  protected  by 
it  fr<  m  indiscriminating  vengeance.  Those  who  make 
use  (  f  such  languageseem  to  have  no  notion  of  thecrimes 
which  call  to  heaveu  for  vengeance !  I  would  recom- 
mend to  those  v  ho  express  such  an  illiberal  and  shocking 
sentiment  to  reflect  seriously  whether  they  are  not  pro- 
tected by  the  indemnity  bills,  as  they  might  otherwise 
be  exhibited  on  the  gibbet  Let  these  unreflecting  as- 
sertors  of  prejudice  look  to  the  fate  of  Governor  Wall  of 
Goree.  The  recurrence  of  their  own  deeds  to  their  minds 
by  such  a  contemplation  may,  perhaps  produce  hearty 
contrition  for  their  past  misconduct,  and  may  induce 
tl  em  to  make  what  reparation  remains  in  their  power  for 
the  many  injuries,  in  various  shapes,  which  they  have 
committed  !  Though  justice  did  not  overtake  the  gover- 
nor of  Goree  for  twenty  years;  yet  then  the  recital  of 
his  horrid  crime  of  ordering  a  soldier,  whom  he  consi- 
dered refractory,  to  be  lashed,  which  produced  death, 
roused  the  English  nation,  and  exemplary  punishment 
was  the  consequence !  If  this  solitary  case  which  re- 
garded a  distant  colony  excited  so  much  indignation  in 
the  breasts  of  Englishmen,  can  the  same  people  overlook 
similar  and  greater  deeds  of  atrocity  committed  a  thou- 
sand times  over  against  the  Irish,  now  incorporated  with 
themselves  ?  Can  the  feelings  of  any  wise,  just,  and 
good  man  be  withheld  from  most  earnest  endeavours  to 
contribute  all  in  his  power  to  the  coalescence  and  har- 
mony of  all  par«ts,  as  well  as  of  all  ranks  of  the  united 
kingdom  ?  and  if  that  desirable  object  be  attainable — 
and  I  do  believe  that  by  proper  management  it  can  be 
effected— who  is  the  monster  that  will  oppose  its  accom- 
plishment ?  But  it  must  not,  it  cannot  be  opposed.  A 
merciful  and  benevolent  sovereign.  T-&o*e  throne  in  noi7 


r*ISH  REBELLION. 


25 


supported  by  consolidated  dominion,  and  the  united  aft« 
tachment  of  all  his  people,  will  not  suffer  so  valuable  a 
portion  of  them,  as  the  great  majority  of  the  Irish,  to  be 
debased  and  degraded  by  thraldom  the  most  intolerable, 
while  they  are  deemed  to  man  his  fleets  and  armies  in  a 
proportion  greater  than  the  one-half,  and  display  the 
most  unrivalled  bravery  in  his  service,  bearing  terror  and 
dismay  to  his  enemies.  He  will  certainly  recommend 
them  for  relief  from  oppression  to  Ins  imperial  parlia- 
ment, who  will  not  forfeit  the  character  of  wisdom  and 
justice,  or  the  name  of  the  most  dignified  legislature  on 
earth,  by  being  swayed  by  the  tales  of  rancour,  misre- 
presentation and  prejudice.  They  will  redress,  as  truth 
and  reason  direct,  a  magnanimous  and  virtuous  people, 
groaning  under  a  partial  tyranny,  in  the  midst  of  aa 
empire  denominated  free,  to  which  they  would  be  an  in- 
calculable accession  of  strength,  if  protected  from  op- 
pression, persecution,  torture,  and  the  dread  of  threa- 
tened and  meditated  extermination — if  secured  effec- 
tually in  their  lives,  liberties,  and  properties,  without 
impeachment  of  their  religion  and  principles  ;  but  should 
this  be  neglected  and  their  grievances  left  a  galling  in- 
cumbrance upon  them,  in  consequence  of  malevolent  and 
fabricated  calumnies,  there  will  surely  abide  a  rankling 
discontent,  likely  at  all  times  to  produce  disturbance 
and  distraction,  which  must  necessarily  weaken  and  pa- 
ralyze the  energies  of  the  state,  and  perhaps  eventually 
annihilate  the  connection  between  these  countries.  J 
would  earnestly  advise  the  most  violent  and  unthinking 
supporiers  of  division  to  consider  their  own  real  interests 
as  connected  and  involved  with  the  peace  and  happiness 
of  the  nation,  (which  an  impartial  picture  of  the  miseries 
experience  !  can  best  inculcate,)  as  well  as  to  dissipate 
the  misconceptions  of  error,  and  to  disprove  the  false 
representations  wliich  nave  been  sent  abroad,  with 
zchIdus  industry,  to  impose  on  and  mislead  public 
feeling. 

My  real  object  and  earnest  wishes  are  for  conciliation  • 
but  if  a  doubt  can  possibly  arise  respecting  my  state- 
ments, 1  can  only  say  that  I  could  detail  more  numerous 
enormities  than  I  have,  and  of  which  I  entertain  as  little 
'oubt  as  of  those  1  have  related.  I  have  therefore  confined 


252  H1ST0KY  OF  THE  IBISH  REBELLION 

myself  to  facts  and  circumstances  vouched  to  me  beyond 
the  possibility  of  doubt,  for  which  I  can  produce  good 
authorities,  and  on  this  occasion  limit  my  narrative  to 
my  native  district,  where  my  local  and  personal  know- 
ledge were  least  liable  to  deception  or  misinformation  ; 
and  should  the  members  of  both  houses  of  the  imperial 
parliament  deem  it  necessary,  in  their  wisdom,  to  inves- 
tigate the  truth  decisively,  I  will  stake  my  existence  that 
my  relation  shall  be  found,  on  an  impartial  scrutiny,  ex- 
tremely moderate. 


BOSTON  COLLEGE 


Mil  Jllllr^gd  4 
"9031  0164&  >J\ 


DQESh!OTC,p^»ATE 


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